Richard Paul Blandford

Richard Paul Blandford
Of Highland, CA, passed away on Monday November 11th, 2013. Family and friends all knew him by the name of Paul or Pops rather than Richard.
Paul was born in Wellington, TX on August 13th, 1934 to the home of Leota Marie (Hill) and Ray Caldwell Blandford. Paul grew up and attended school in Portales, NM. His graduation year was 1952. In October of that year, he married Bonnie Lee Brown, also of Portales. Paul and Bonnie had one daughter, Doris Gayle, born in Redlands, CA in October 1953. The couple later divorced in 1959.
In 1959, Paul was drafted in to the U.S. Army, eventually being stationed in Petaluma, CA. While serving in the military, Paul was married to Jeanette Madelyn Graham in 1960. Madelyn had a daughter, from a previous marriage, Pamela Sue Layman, who was born in May of 1956. Together, Paul and Madelyn had a son in January 1963 named Kevin Ray Blandford, born in Upland, CA. The couple divorced in 1995 but remained close friends and business associates until Madelyn's death in 2007.
Paul owned and operated a radiator repair shop in Redlands, CA for over 40 years. In 1983, the family opened a Scottish import shop called R.P. Blandford & Son, in Redlands. Paul's son Kevin taught bagpipe lessons in the shop and from his students, formed a bagpipe band in 1986 with the import shop being the band's sponsor. While Kevin and Madelyn played bagpipes in the band, Paul became the band's bass drummer, thus truly making this a family affair. R.P. Blandford & Son became known throughout the Western United States due to the quality of the products from the import shop and the quality of the music from the bagpipe band.
Paul is survived by one daughter, Doris Gayle Blandford who is the mother of his two grandsons, Jeremy Daniel Massey and Justin Ryan Massey of Portales, NM; along with a step-daughter, Pamela Sue Perkins and her three children, Ryan Sean Perkins, Brittany Lynn Perkins, and Brandon James Perkins of Spring Hill, TN. Paul is also survived by the partner of his late son Kevin, Nicholas Alaniz of San Bernardino, CA. Paul's surviving siblings are: Ora Estell (Snooks) Powell (husband George Robert Powell, deceased), Verald Dean (Buck) Blandford (wife Laverba A Scott, deceased), R.C. Blandford, Jr. (wife Dorsey), Louise Bruce (husband Howard Leon, Sr.), Robert Donald (Bob) Blandford (wife Pat), Jerry Ronald Blandford (wife Charlotte), and Linda Ann Bell (husband Louie Franklin Bell, deceased) - along with many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents: Ray and Marie Blandford; one sister, Viola Elizabeth; and two brothers Bernice Jack Blandford and Maurice Dale Blandford.
A Memorial Service will be held on Monday, November 25th at 6:30 pm at Trinity Episcopal Church at 419 S 4th St, Redlands, CA. A ceremony, in recognition of the 10th anniversary of the passing of Paul's son, Kevin Ray Blandford (11/26/2003) will be held on Tuesday, November 26th. This will be celebrated by joining Paul's ashes with Kevin's which are contained in Trinity's Garden.
In lieu of flowers, donations may by made to the Blandford Scholorship Fund, Florist Federal Credit Union, PO Box 2202, Roswell, NM 88202 (contact: RRSewSpec@aol.com) or to the charity of choice. Cortner Chapel of Redlands assisted the family with the funeral arrangements.