1930 – 2013

CLIFTON — Edward T. “Ned” Blanchard, 83, of South Portland, passed away suddenly on Sunday, Nov. 3, in Clifton, at his longtime hunting camp — a favorite place of his.

He was born in Brewer on Jan. 8, 1930, the son of Ethel Hussey Blanchard and Franz Hodgdon Blanchard. He graduated from Brewer High School in 1948, where he played basketball and football, and was president of his class. After high school, he was active in youth athletics, volunteering as a basketball coach and Little League umpire.

As a young man, he served his country in the Maine National Guard. He was a member of the Ralph J. Pollard Masonic Lodge in Orrington and Kora Temple Shrine in Lewiston. In 1960, Ned and his family moved from Brewer to Lewiston, where he owned and operated automatic car washes in Lewiston, Biddeford and South Portland. He also worked as a building contractor in Brewer, Lewiston and South Portland.

Ned was an avid outdoorsman, hunting and fishing from the unorganized territories in northern Maine to his blueberry fields in Clifton. He was a lifelong gardener and enjoyed golf in his later years. As active as he was, there was always time for family. He was a devoted husband, father and grandfather. He liked to say he was “a jack-of-all-trades and a master of none,” but he was certainly the one family and friends called on when they needed a helping hand; he was readily available with his time and talents.

After his retirement in 1982, he and his wife spent winters in Betmar Acres, Zephyrhills, Fla.

He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Eunice Lantz Blanchard; two daughters, Brenda Delahanty and husband, John, of Cape Elizabeth and Anne Blanchard of Cheyenne, Wyo.; as well as five grandchildren, Ben Delahanty and wife, Danielle, Sarah, Abigail and Lucas Delahanty and Jessica Andrews and husband, J.D.; and one great-granddaughter, Emma Andrews.

He was predeceased by six brothers, Earl, Moses, Robert, Franz, Douglas and Theodore; and a sister, Dorothy Humphrey.

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