Robert A. Blanks

He was born April 14, 1921, in Columbia, South Carolina, to Major Henry Parker and Margaret Inman Blanks.

Robert graduated from the University of California, Berkeley and San Francisco Junior College where he completed advanced training in aviation engineering and aircraft maintenance.

He served honorably as a 1st Lt in the US Army during WWII and piloted B-17 and B-24 bombers in missions over Normandy, Northern France and the Air-Offensive-Europe. He was a B-17 and B-24 flight instructor.

He was an airline executive for most of his life. His greatest achievement was securing the South American and Pacific Charters for the first freight movement between those areas and the US for Flying Tiger Airlines and Airlift International.

He was preceded in death by his beloved wife, June Blanks.

Robert is survived by his children, Robert H. I. Blanks and wife, Janet C., Melinda M. Sutherland and husband, William, Jon W. Blanks and wife, Betty J., Jeff Blanks and wife, Sheryl; 9 grandchildren; 9 great-grandchildren; sister-in-law, Dorothy Jansen; 2 nieces and 2 nephews.

The family would like to thank the loving and caring staff at the Stone Oak Care Center and Odyssey Hospice.