Elwood "Doc" Parry Blanchard Jr., 90, of Kennett Square, died peacefully on June 24, at his home in Kennett Square, with his wife, Barbara Daly Blanchard, at his side. He is survived by his daughter, Barbara "Bobby" Blanchard-Lewis (Roger) of Morrisville, Vt., and his son, Elwood Neal Blanchard (Mary), of Chadd's Ford. His daughter, Marguerite Blanchard Dunn, predeceased him in March.
Elwood was born in Tuxedo, N.Y., on May 14, 1931, to Elwood Parry Blanchard Sr. and Marguerite Riker Blanchard. He was the second of two sons, and grew up in Suffern, N.Y., until the family moved to Spencer, N.Y. after his brother, Malcolm, contracted polio. Elwood's youth instilled in him a remarkable work ethic, as he balanced tending to the family farm, helping his father on contracting jobs, and attending Spencer Central School, where he graduated in 1949. For the rest of his life, Elwood visited Spencer and maintained close relationships with the numerous cousins with whom he had grown up.
Elwood attended the Georgia Institute of Technology, where he earned his BS and MS in Chemistry, and participated in ROTC. He served his country for two years on active duty at the Aberdeen Proving Grounds in Maryland from July 1954 to April 1956, then stayed on inactive reserve until 1961 when he was honorably discharged as a first lieutenant.
Following his active duty, Elwood attended the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and earned his Ph.D. in organic chemistry. He was recruited to work by DuPont de Nemours, Inc., where he spent the entirety of his career. Starting out in the Central Research Department in 1959, he thereafter held managerial positions of increasing responsibility culminating in his final position as vice-chairman. He also served as the non-executive chairman of Dupont Canada.
In retirement, Elwood divided his time between Rock Hall Md., Maple Springs, N.Y., and his home in Pennsylvania. He read extensively, enthusiastically supported Georgia Tech athletics, particularly football, and basketball, and loved gathering with his immediate and extended family in Rock Hall. He served as president of the Longwood Gardens Board of Trustees, as chairman of the Georgia Tech Advisory Board, and as a trustee of the Philadelphia Academy of Natural Sciences. His support for Georgia Tech included the creation of a fellowship to support junior faculty in the Chemistry Department.
Elwood's life touched and benefitted the lives of many others. He will be remembered for his generosity, leadership, intelligence, work ethic, and commitment to family, and will be greatly missed by his surviving wife, children, seven grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren. A service in honor of his life will be private at the convenience of the family. Those who choose to make a contribution in memory of his life should do so to the charity of their choice.
(1 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5)
Loading...
Comments