James A. Blanchfield Jr.

1934 - 2017

James A. Blanchfield Jr., of Smyrna, passed away on Tuesday, October 10, 2017 at Bayhealth Medical Center, Dover. He was 83.

He was born in Wilmington, DE, the son of the late James A. Blanchfield Sr. and the late Elizabeth Squares Blanchfield.

He was raised in Middletown, and later resided in Smyrna for many years. At an early age, he was employed by Stanley Boyd at Boyd's ARCO service station in Smyrna. He later purchased the business and operated it as Blanchfield's ARCO/Texaco for many years until his retirement.

He served in the DE Army National Guard and attained the rank of 1st Sergeant.

In his younger years, he raced midget race cars. Jim enjoyed hunting, fishing, watching NASCAR, and the Phillies. He especially enjoyed flounder fishing trips to Virginia.

He greatly enjoyed his friends stopping by his garage for coffee and conversation.

He was an administrative member of the Citizens' Hose Co., Smyrna, serving on the Board of Directors and was a past chairman of the uniform committee. He also was a driver for the Smyrna American Legion Ambulance Service for many years.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a sister, Joan Frazier.

He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Betty J. (Shane) Blanchfield; three children, Betty (David) Steller, Terry (Bob) Merrill, and Jimmy (Tracy) Blanchfield; five grandchildren, Davey Steller, Crystal Hodge, Chris Merrill, Jordan Hobbs, and Emmalee Burdette; six great-grandchildren; a sister, Delores (Rynear) Donaway; and a brother, Charles Blanchfield.

The family wishes to extend a very special thank you to the staff of Silver Lake Center, Dover, for the love and care given to him during his stay there.

Services will be held at 1 p.m. Sunday, October 15 at Matthews-Bryson Funeral Home, 123 W. Commerce St., Smyrna, where friends may call at 11:30 a.m. Burial will be in Odd Fellows Cemetery, Smyrna.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be sent to Citizens Hose Co., PO Box 97, Smyrna, DE 19977 or to the American Legion Ambulance, 900 Smyrna Clayton Blvd., Smyrna, DE 19977.

To sign the online guestbook, please visit www.matthewsbryson.com.

Arrangements are by Matthews-Bryson Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Smyrna.