Irvin T Blanchard

Irvin T. (Bud) Blanchard died Easter Sunday morning, March 27, 2005 at Kingsway Arms Nursing Center in Schenectady. Bud was born on Christmas Day 1921 in Watervliet, NY. He was the son of Elsie Schmidt and Irvin T. Blanchard. A proud 1939 graduate of Watervliet High School, he joined the Apprentice Program at GE. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1944 and served during World War II on the USS Bosque. Upon leaving the Navy, he went on to get his Bachelor's Degree at RPI, graduating in 1949. He retired from GE in 1983 after 42 years of service as a Mechanical Engineer. Bud was a member of many organizations, including Toastmasters, the Society of Manufacturing Engineers, the Elfin Society, the Masons, the Shriners, the Helderburg Twirlers, the Happy Hearts Club and both the Scotia and Glenville Rotary. He was a communicant of St. Stephen's Episcopal Church and a past Vestry member. His first wife, Helen E. Turner Blanchard died in 1962. His second wife, C. Beverly Blanchard, died in 2004. His sister, Helena O'Fee, died in 1998. He is survived by his three daughters, Barbara Blanchard and her husband Art Edelstein of Schenectady, Candace Fiet and her husband Jeff of Scotia and Pamela Brown and her husband Michael of Rotterdam. He is also survived by three step-children, Michelle Abare Sossei and her husband John of Londonderry, NH, Edward J. Abare III and his wife Mary of Vero Beach, Florida and Lori Abare Carmer and her husband Brian of Saratoga. He is also survived by 15 grandchildren, 5 great grandchildren and eleven nieces and nephews. Funeral services will be held Wednesday morning, March 30th at 11:00am at St. Stephen's Church, The Plaza, Schenectady, NY. Calling hours will be Tuesday evening from 7 till 9 at the Bond Funeral Home, Broadway & Guilderland Ave. Schenectady, NY. Interment will be at ParkView Cemetery in Schenectady. At the request of the family memorial contributions may be made to the Wellness Center at Sunnyview Hospital.