Annie Frank Reeves Blanton was born September 21, 1918 on her father’s birthday at South Highlands Hospital in Birmingham, Alabama. This was two months before the end of World War I. Throughout her life almost everyone called her Frankie. Her grandchildren Rob and Liz started calling her Nan and that became a sort of second family name that has continued on with her great grandchildren and great, great grandchildren. Mrs. Blanton was only two years old when her mother died in a sanitorium in Ashville, North Carolina, leaving behind a husband and four young children. Mrs. Blanton’s childhood was spent in Clay County, Pinson, and McCalla, Alabama. After high school she lived with an aunt and uncle in the West End area of Birmingham and worked several department store jobs before meeting her husband Owen Blanton. Mr. Blanton was a supply train engineer during World War II and had to leave behind his wife and two-month old daughter when he sailed for Europe on Christmas Day, 1944. After the war he worked several different jobs that ultimately led to he and Mrs. Blanton starting Blanton Exterminating Company in 1962. Mrs. Blanton was the owner of that company until her death on March 7, 2022.
The great passions of her life were her family, her faith, Blanton Exterminating Company, her yard, and her cooking. Many generations of family and friends sat at the table of her delicious food. She always loved children and they always loved her. Even within the last few years of her life, her great grandchildren, and great, great grandchildren loved to visit Nan.
She died peacefully at her home of nearly 65 years surrounded by family and much love. She is survived by her two children Barbara Caslin and Frank Blanton (wife Kimi), grandson Rob Caslin (daughter Harper), step-grandchildren David Carder, Ellen Godfrey (husband Matt), and Oliver Carder, great grandson Justin (wife Lizzie), great grandchildren Irene and Otis Godfrey, great-great grandchildren Eli and Ace Jones, and numerous cousins, nieces, and nephews.
The family wishes to thank Journey Hospice for their compassionate care of Mrs. Blanton over the past several weeks and to Mary Crooks for her many years of love and assistance.
A celebration of life will be held at Johns Ridout’s Elmwood Chapel On Friday, March 11 at 11:00 A.M. with visitation at 10:00 A.M. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, the National World War II Museum in New Orleans, or Big Oak Ranch in Gadsden, Alabama.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.johnsridoutselmwoodchapel.com for the Blanton family.
