Gary F. Blanchard, Lt Usn

Gary Franklin Blanchard, LT, USN (ret) Appling, GA. - Gary Franklin Blanchard, LT, USN (ret), 80 of Moontown Rd. entered into rest February 16, 2012 at Eisenhower Army Medical Center. Funeral services will be held at 3:00 p.m., Sunday, February 19, 2012 at Damascus Baptist Church with Rev. John Davis and Rev. Joe Hester officiating. Interment will follow in the church cemetery with Military Honors. Pallbearers will be Tom Christopherson, Larry Golden, Dan Harrell, Bob Lollar, Boog Powell and Tim Powell. Honorary pallbearers will be members of the Damascus Baptist Men's Bible Class and Cecil Kight. Mr. Blanchard was born in Appling, Georgia and was the son of the late Harry Eugene Blanchard and the late Grace Odessa Prickette Blanchard. He served in the U.S. Navy and retired as a Lieutenant after serving on the USS Gherardi DMS-30, USS Eversole DD-789, USS Gunston Hall LSD-5, USS Samuel N. Moore DD-747, USS New Jersey BB-62, USS Prairie AD-15, and the USS William H. Standley DLG-32. The highlight of Mr. Blanchard's naval career was serving on the USS New Jersey BB-62 from 1967 to 1969 during the Vietnam Conflict. Mr. Blanchard also retired from the U.S. Postal Service as a rural carrier. He was a member of Damascus Baptist Church, NARFE, MOAA, VFW, the American Legion, NRA and had served as a training officer for the Winfield Volunteer Fire Department. Survivors include his beloved wife, Nancy Beasley Blanchard; son, Michael Franklin Blanchard and wife, Valerie of Martinez, GA; daughter, Julie Blanchard Bisel and husband, Jeff of Clarksville, TN; brothers, Harry E. Blanchard, Jr. of White Plains, GA, Randall Blanchard of McDonough, GA; grandchildren, Meredith Blanchard, Samantha Blanchard, Chase Bisel and Eli Bisel. The family will receive friends from 6 until 8 p.m. Saturday, February 18, 2012 at the funeral home. The family suggests that memorial contributions be made to the Shepeard Community Blood Center, Columbia County Historical Society, P.O. Box 203, Appling, GA 30802 or Columbia County Humane Society, 6100 Columbia Road, Grovetown, GA 30813. Beggs Funeral Home, 799 Cobbham Road, Thomson, GA is in charge of all arrangements. (706) 595-4100