Mrs. Lois Jean Bateman Blanchard

Mrs. Lois Jean Bateman Blanchard, 88, of New Bern, passed away on Monday, July 18, 2011. She was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother and sister. The oldest of four children, she was the daughter of William Joseph Bateman and Gwendolyn James Bateman of Tarboro. She was the wife of the late Dr. Irvin Thomas “Hank� Blanchard who preceded her in death in 1989 and the mother of Lois Jean Blanchard who preceded them both in death in 1952. Memorial service will be 11 a.m. Saturday, July 23, 2011 at First Baptist Church located at 239 Middle Street, New Bern. Dr. Steve Fitzgerald will officiate. The family will receive friends immediately following the service in the Family Life Center located at the church. Mrs. Blanchard is survived by two sons, Irvin Thomas “Butch� Blanchard, III and his wife Bettie Kellogg Blanchard of Manteo and Joseph Bateman Blanchard and wife Jean Arant Blanchard of New Bern; one daughter, Melinda Blanchard Wheeler and husband Gray Wheeler, III of New Bern; one brother, William Joseph Bateman, Jr. and his wife Brenda Dickerson Bateman of Raleigh; and two sisters, Gwen Bateman Nicholson of Raleigh and Billie Bateman Futrell and husband J. Richard Futrell of Morehead City. She is also survived by five grandchildren, Irvin Thomas Blanchard, IV and wife Colleen White Blanchard of Charlotte, Gordon Kellogg Blanchard and wife Madelaine Pick Blanchard of Kill Devil Hills, Joseph Ward Blanchard of Palm Desert, Ca., Oliver Gray Wheeler, IV and wife Leigh Brantley Wheeler of Raleigh and Laura Wheeler Clark and husband Russell MacKenzie Clark of New Bern; and four great grandchildren, Irvin Thomas Blanchard, V, Mary Mclaine Blanchard, Caroline Gray Clark and Oliver Gray Wheeler, V. Flowers are welcomed, however the family recommends memorials be made in her honor to First Baptist Church.