Blanchard, a resident of the community since 1932, died in his car Monday afternoon, apparently of a heart attack, after which his car crashed into a tree in downtown Lowell.
After complaining of "feeling ill" while at work as service manager in the Lowell Sears Roebuck & Co., he was on his way home when he suffered the heart attack. He had just turned his car off Commercial Avenue into a side street.
RITES Thursday will be at 2 p.m. in the Sheets Funeral home with the Rev. E.L. Worley, pastor of the Church of Christ at Shelby, officiating. Burial will be in Lowell Cemetery.
Blanchard was commander of the Lowell American Legion Post in 1946. He was a delegate to the recent Indiana Department convention in Indianapolis.
Blanchard also was active in the Boy Scouts, having been scoutmaster of Troop No. 34 in Lowell. He had been honored with presentation of the Silver Beaver for "outstanding contribution to Scouting" in the Lowell area.
He also held membership in the Knights of Pythias. Blanchard had been with Sear's Lowell store since 1939.
Surviving are the widow, Edith of Lowell, five brothers, Neil A. Blanchard of Crown Point, Ward of Porter, Kyle of Hopewell, Va., Rexford of Steubenville, O., and Vernell of Akron, O., and a sister, Mrs. Myrtis Smith of Hopewell.
Lowell firemen worked for more than an hour in a futile attempt to revive him. Earlier, he had complained to co-workers of "feeling ill."
The Blanchards came to Lowell in 1932, and since 1939, "Syd" had been with Sears. He was service manager.
A leader in Legion and Scouting activities, Syd was Commander of the Lowell American Legion Post 101, in 1946, and had filled many chairmanships, serving for many years as chairman of Lowell's beautiful Memorial Day service. He had been a Legionnaire since his return from World War I, and served as post delegate to the state convention two weeks ago.
Syd had been honored with the presentation of the Silver Beaver for his outstanding contribution to Scouting in the Lowell area. He was a past Scoutmaster of Troop 3, sponsored by the Legion. He also held membership in the Knights of Pythias.
Syd was born July 21, 1894, at Somanoc, Ill., where he received his education. On June 20, 1916, he married Edith M, Wilson in a ceremony read at the Presbyterian Church in Petersburg, Va. The Blanchards had no children but after the accidental death of Syd's sister, Mrs. Schock, they opened their home to her three children, Roy, Viola, and Caroline. The older boy was killed in World War II.
Military memorial services will be held at 2 p.m. today, August 4, in the Sheets Funeral Home, with Rev. E.L. Worley officiating. Interment will be made in the Lowell cemetery.
Laid to rest in his uniform, his flag draped casket will be borne by fellow legionnaires Fred Minninger, Harry Clark, Floyd Vinnedge, Harrison Snell, Austin Cunningham, and Robt. Mack.
Surviving with his widow, Edith, are five brothers, Neil A. Blanchard of Crown Point, Ward of Porter, Kyle of Hopewell, Va., Rexford of Steubenville, Ohio, and Vernell of Akron, Ohio, and a sister, Mrs. Myrtis Smith of Hopewell.
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