Clair Blanchard represented all that is right and good in this world. When I hear the term, "the strong silent type", he immediately comes to my mind.
He was my hero and the solid foundation of our family. We could always count on him.
He was born on a farm on July 20, 1879 in Randolph, New York to Thomas Allen Blanchard and the former Frances Louise Meyers (Frankie).. His mother was small in stature and was said to resemble the actress Debbie Reynolds. He had two brothers Claude and younger brother Arnold who died in his teens from a horse riding accident. He had three sisters, Gertrude, Maude and Grace.
He attended Chamberlain Institute in Randolph, where a large charcoal drawing of a deer with antlers he had created remained hanging for decades .
He married his lifelong sweetheart Ethel May Cuffe on June 22. 1904. They had two Children Mary Florence(Virginia) and Donald Clair(Donn). They had four Grandchildren and 7 great grandchildren and many great, great grand children.
Clair was in the Army during the Spanish American War, stationed in the Philippines. He worked as an Engineer for the Pennsylvania Railroad most of his life. During World War II he put his talents to work as an expeditor for Bell Aircraft supervising an all female crew.
He was a hard worker and a very good provider for his family. He was a wholesome unassuming gentleman of great integrity. He was very independent and self reliant. He took care of his family and any one else who asked for his help.
He moved his family south to live in Florida in 1950 after a serious operation the year before that cost him his leg and nearly his life. He didn't let the loss of his leg slow him down. He would climb on the roof to make repairs with out asking for help. He enjoyed a good game of poker and in his later years he loved to watch the prize fights and baseball on TV while enjoying a Pabst Blue Ribbon beer.
He was talented as a wood carver, carving the stocks of rifles with painstakingly intricate nature scenes with deer, etc. The guns were absolute works of art.
He enjoyed cars and usually had a new Cadillac every year or so.
He loved his family and his country. He was a great role model. The world could use more men like my Grandfather, Clair Blanchard.
He passed away on January 9, 1963 at the age of 83 and is still greatly missed.
VXA
