Hugh Blanton's Obituary
Hugh Tabor Blanton of Memphis, TN, died on January 23, 2010, at the age of 84 following a brief illness. Mr. Blanton was born in Weir, MS, on May 6, 1925, the son of Robert E. Lee Blanton and Gussie Pickle Blanton. He was predeceased by his parents and his seven siblings: Duke, Davis, Izene, Paul, Margaret, Bertrand, and Donald Blanton. He served as a pilot in the Air Force and Air Force Reserve and attained the rank of Major. Mr. Blanton settled in Memphis with his wife, Martha Robertson Blanton, who predeceased him in 2002 after a marriage of 57 years. In addition to his wife, Martha, and the nine members of his immediate family, he was predeceased by his daughter, Cynthia Blanton Schwartz, his second wife, Frances Hall Blanton, and his son-in-law Benjamin B. Park, MD. Mr. Blanton had a lengthy career as an air traffic controller for the FAA and earned his BS in Journalism from Memphis State University. He was a devoted member of Audobon Park Baptist Church, where he served as a deacon, and of Germantown Baptist Church. In addition to his professional interest in aviation, his avocations included finance, cooking, numismatics, and travel, an interest that was spurred by his two-year residency in Casablanca as a member of the military during the early fifties. At the time of his death, he was a resident of Kirby Pines Estates. Mr. Blanton is survived by two daughters, Patricia Blanton Park of Bronxville, NY, and Eleanor Blanton Haimsohn of Hernando, MS; two sons-in-law, Michael I. Schwartz of Memphis and Michael Haimsohn of Hernando; and three grandchildren, Jacob N. Park of San Francisco, CA, Emily R. Park of Oakland, CA, and Garry M. Schwartz of Memphis. He is also survived by his stepdaughters, Billie Hall Cash and her husband Roy of Collierville, and Judy Hall McLellan and her husband Micky of Germantown, in addition to 3 step grandchildren, and 10 step great-grandchildren. Mr. Blanton’s life will be celebrated at a visitation from 5 to 7 PM on Monday, January 25th, at Memorial Park Funeral Home, followed by a funeral service at Memorial Park on Tuesday, January 26, at 11:30 and burial at Memorial Park Southwoods Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Billy Graham Crusade of North Carolina.
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