Former Centralian David G. Blanchard of Oceanside, New York died on Sept. 29, 2022, at 79 years of age. He was a person of unlimited goodwill who never said a negative word about anyone. He always had time to stop and say, “How have you been?”
He was a proud graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point, class of 1967, a retired colonel from the U.S. Army, and a decorated veteran of Vietnam where he earned two Purple Hearts (twice wounded in combat). In Vietnam, Dave was also the recipient of two bronze stars for heroism and acts of valor in armed combat and a Valorous Unit Award.
After retirement from active Army service, Dave earned his doctorate and served as the dean of graduate students at Hofstra University. Later, he taught as an adjunct professor at St. John’s University.
Dave was born and attended school in Centralia, Washington. He was a star athlete at Centralia High School where he was elected president of the student body in 1960-61, a position his father held 25 years earlier. In 1963, Dave graduated from Centralia College where he was also elected student body president. There, Dave established and supported a scholarship in the name of the Class of 1963.
He was the devoted husband of Penny; the cherished father of Lisa (Nathan), Cari, Rachel and Megan (Kenneth); grandfather of Aiden, Tyler, Nicholas, Christopher, Sofia, Abigail and Kaitlyn; brother of Robert and recently deceased brother Steven.
Services were held near Oceanside with burial to follow at a later date at the West Point Military Cemetery. Memorial contributions are requested to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research online at www.michaeljfox.org/donate/donate-parkinsons-disease-research or the Centralia College Foundation at www.centralia.edu/foundation/donate.aspx or Class of 1963 Endowment, Centralia College Foundation 600 Centralia College Blv., Centralia, Washington 98531.
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