William P. Blanchard

William Palmer Blanchard of Chestertown, Maryland died on January 1, 2006 at Chester River Hospital Center in Chestertown. He was 92. Born on December 28, 1913 in Detroit, Michigan he was the son of the late, Reginald and May Palmer Blanchard. Mr. Blanchard was an Eagle Scout with Troop #31 in 1931 in Detroit. He graduated High School and attended Wayne University. He was a guide and curator at Greenfield Village and the Henry Ford Museum in Detroit Michigan from 1934 until 1941. In 1942 he married Bessie Bruns. During WWII he served in the U.S.Army in North Africa, Sicily and Italy he was honorably discharged as PFC in 1945 with EAME Theatre Ribbons with 3 bronze stars. He worked with Michigan Consolidated Gas Company as a Union Representative. He served as a Deacon with the First Presbyterian Church in Dearborn, Michigan. He also was a volunteer with the Boy Scouts of American in the 1960’s in Dearborn. In 1986 he moved to the Eastern Shore and served the Presbyterian church of Chestertown as a Deacon. Volunteerism was very important to Mr. Blanchard and after retirement he volunteered with Allen Park Veterans Hospital (serving over 1,000 hours), the Chester River Hospital Center for 15 years, and at the Food Pantry for the last 6 years until 3 weeks prior to his death. In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Bessie; his brother, Richard Blanchard and his sister, Betty Andrus along with a brother in law and a sister in law. Mr. Blanchard is survived by a daughter, Linda and her husband, Austin Walmsley of Chestertown, MD and grandchildren, Julia and Christopher Walmsley along with nephews, nieces, and great nieces. Funeral Services will be held on Friday, January 6, 2006 at 2:00 P.M. at the Presbyterian Church of Chestertown. Relatives and friends may call on Thursday, January 5, 2005 between the hours of 6:00 and 8:00 PM at Fellows, Helfenbein and Newnam Funeral Home, P.A., 130 Speer Road, Chestertown, MD. Interment will be in Crumpton Cemetery. In lieu of flowers contributions may be made to Presbyterian Church of Chestertown, 905 Gateway Drive, Chestertown, MD 21620 or Chester River Hospital Center Auxiliary, 100 Brown St., Chestertown, MD 21620 or the Food Pantry, P.O. Box 262, Chestertown, MD 21620.