William H. Blanchard
July 6, 1921 - March 1, 2012

William H. "W.H." Blanchard, age 90 of Edwardsburg, MI, formerly of Osceola, IN, passed away Thursday, March 1, 2012. He was born July 6, 1921 in Millersburg, IN to the late Ora and Ida (Weaver) Blanchard. William served his country during WWII in the Army Air Corps, where he was a tail gunner on a B-24 Bomber. He and his crew were shot down and held captive in Bucharest, Romania for 138 days before his release as a POW.

Surviving is his wife of 50 years, Katie Blanchard, and his step-children Danny (Judy) Spillner of Eagan, MN, and Sherril (Greg) Garlat of Union, MI. Also surviving are 7 grandchildren and several great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, his step-son, Jack E. Spillner, and 9 siblings.

Visitation will be held from 4-7 pm Friday, March 9, 2012 at Chapel Hill Funeral Home in Osceola. Funeral services will be held at 10 am Saturday, March 10, 2012 at Chapel Hill Funeral Home. Interment will follow at 12:30 pm Saturday at Woodland Cemetery in Wolcottville, IN. W.H. was employed for 35 years at Uniroyal, retiring in 1973. He enjoyed fishing, mushroom hunting and watching his grandson Steve Lytle play sports. W.H. was also a member of the VFW, American Legion, and DAV, and enjoyed attending POW reunions with his former military brothers.

William H. Blanchard
July 6, 1921 - March 1, 2012

William H. "W.H." Blanchard, age 90 of Edwardsburg, MI, formerly of Osceola, IN, passed away Thursday, March 1, 2012. He was born July 6, 1921 in Millersburg, IN to the late Ora and Ida (Weaver) Blanchard. William served his country during WWII in the Army Air Corps, where he was a tail gunner on a B-24 Bomber. He and his crew were shot down and held captive in Bucharest, Romania for 138 days before his release as a POW.

Surviving is his wife of 50 years, Katie Blanchard, and his step-children Danny (Judy) Spillner of Eagan, MN, and Sherril (Greg) Garlat of Union, MI. Also surviving are 7 grandchildren and several great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, his step-son, Jack E. Spillner, and 9 siblings.

Visitation will be held from 4-7 pm Friday, March 9, 2012 at Chapel Hill Funeral Home in Osceola. Funeral services will be held at 10 am Saturday, March 10, 2012 at Chapel Hill Funeral Home. Interment will follow at 12:30 pm Saturday at Woodland Cemetery in Wolcottville, IN. W.H. was employed for 35 years at Uniroyal, retiring in 1973. He enjoyed fishing, mushroom hunting and watching his grandson Steve Lytle play sports. W.H. was also a member of the VFW, American Legion, and DAV, and enjoyed attending POW reunions with his former military brothers.