Obituary of Earl Blanchard JR

Schenectady - Earl C. Blanchard, 89, passed away Tuesday, December 11, 2012 at Dutch Manor Nursing Home. Earl was born in Schenectady, the son of the late Earl C. and Margaret (Swears) Blanchard Sr. He graduated from Mont Pleasant High School, class of 1941 and owned his own business in Colonie, Blanchard TV Repair during the 1950s. In 1960 he and his wife, Gladys relocated to Lantana, Florida where he was employed as an electronic technician with Pratt Whitney in West Palm Beach, retiring in 1986. Before moving to Florida, he was a firefighter with the Midway Fire Department and the captain of the Midway Rescue Squad. Earl and Gladys returned to the Schenectady area, but only after residing in Graham, NC from 1989 to 2005. In addition to his wife, Gladys, whom he married in November 20, 1941, he is survived by his son, Stephen E. (Sherilyn) Blanchard of Ticonderoga, NY; grandchildren, Joshua, Timothy and Jonathan (Jocelyn) Blanchard; two great-grandchildren, Jeremy and Jana Blanchard; and several nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his two daughters, Deborah Jean Blanchard who passed away in 1959, and Margaret Ann Blanchard who passed away in 2004; and brother, Edward F. Blanchard. The funeral service will be Friday 1 p.m. at Lisha Kill Reformed Church, 2131 Central Ave., Schenectady. A calling hour will precede the service from 12 noon to 1 p.m. at the church. Interment will be in Evergreen Memorial Park, Colonie.