FRANCIS E. BLANCHARD

     Francis E. Blanchard, 90, formerly of Worcester died on Thursday, February 24th, 2011 in the Redwood Springs Healthcare Center.

     His wife of 53 years, Frances G. (Guzauckas) Blanchard died in 1997. He is survived by 3 sons, Dennis Blanchard of Montgomery, VT, Roger Blanchard of Visalia, CA and Kenneth Blanchard of Leominster, MA; a sister, Helen Cane of Worcester; 1 grandson, Tyler Blanchard and many nephews and nieces. Mr. Blanchard was born in Shrewsbury, MA son of the late Jean Baptiste Valmore Blanchard and Cordelia (Malhoit) Blanchard and is predeceased by 2 brothers, Roland and Joseph Blanchard and a sister, Rita Gelinas.

     Francis worked for the United States Postal Service for many years and was a veteran of World War II serving in the Army Air Corps. While in the service he attained the rank of Sergeant and was one of the Air Corps "dit-dah" boys teaching Morse code to thousands of future Air Corps aviators.

     Mr. Blanchard also served for some years as the deputy director of the Leicester Civil Defense and was a member of the Leicester Auxiliary Police.

     The funeral will be held on Friday, March 4th from the Alfred Roy & Sons Funeral Home 12 Hammond St. Worcester, MA with a Mass at 10 AM in Sacred Heart – Saint Catherine Church, 600 Cambridge St., Worcester, MA. Burial will follow in Worcester County Memorial Park, Paxton, MA. Calling hours are on Thursday, March 3rd from 5 to 8 PM in the funeral home.