02/15/2007

Notification of Death - Wilmer J. "Bud" Blanchard, Jr.

February 11, 2007

OFDA received word this morning that Wilmer J. "Bud" Blanchard, Jr., 91, of Toledo, passed away peacefully Sunday, February 11, 2007, at the Lutheran Village at Wolf Creek.

Bud was owner of Blanchard Brothers Funeral Home on E. Broadway and later on W. Sylvania Avenue in Toledo, where he began working in 1933 with his father. He was a licensed funeral director and embalmer for 69 years.

Bud was a long time member of Blessed Sacrament Church, and it's Holy Name Society; he was the head there for 62 years and active in the St. Vincent DePaul Society. He was a member of the North Cape Yacht Club, Bellarmine Club at Gesu Church, NW Ohio Funeral Directors Assn., Ohio Funeral Directors Assn., National Funeral Directors Assn., BPOE Elks Lodge 0053; Five Points Assn., charter member of the Knights of Columbus, Council 3122. Bud enjoyed bowling and golf and was a licensed single engine pilot.

He married Rita Gloeckler in 1938, and she preceded him in death in 1970; sisters, Lucille Guilinger and Dorothy Napier; brother, Harold Blanchard; son-in-law, Ronald H. Huss Sr., and grandson Ronald H. Huss Jr.

Survived by his wife, Ruth Blanchard, whom he married in 1972; daughter, Judith A. Huss; son, Jim (Janet) Blanchard; stepchildren, Thomas (Trish) Brady, Barbara (Richard) Bush and Patricia Mazeika; grandchildren, Timothy (Jackie) Huss, Wilmer J. (Karen) Blanchard IV, Laura (Brad) Crandall and Keith (Amanda) Blanchard; 8 step-grandchildren; great-grandchildren, T.J., Ryan, Zachary, Lauren, Jay, Cecelia, Nicholas and Caroline; 7 step great-grandchildren; brother-in-law, Carl Guilinger.

The Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Thursday, February 15, 2007, at 10:00 AM at Blessed Sacrament Church, where the body will lie in state after 9:00 AM. Burial to follow at Calvary Cemetery.

Memorials may be directed to St. John's Jesuit High School, the Blessed Sacrament Building Fund, or the Jenny Bush Memorial Fund c/o the funeral home 1163 West Sylvania Avenue, Toledo, Ohio 43612. Online condolences: blancharddstrabler.com