Vadis LaVon Moon Blenis

Born in Milo, Iowa, Kitty attended schools in the Milo and Indianola, Iowa area. She is survived by her nephews Max L. Runyan (California), Brian Blenis and wife Debbie (Florida), and niece Carolyn Scherf and husband Larry (Iowa), great nieces Debbie Runyan Canaday and husband Don (Texas), Tracie Runyan King and husband Elonzo (Missouri), Tonya Runyan Metzger and husband Rick (Missouri), Teresa Scherf Hill and husband Craig (Iowa), and Sue Haworth (Iowa), and great nephews Roger Runyan and wife Michelle (California), Terrell Runyan and wife Anita (Missouri), Steve Scherf and wife Heidi (Iowa), Doug Scherf (Minnesota), Eric Haworth and wife, Linda (Iowa), and Kirk Haworth and wife Laura (Iowa), as well as numerous great great nieces and nephews. Nephew Merrill Runyan and wife Darlene (Missouri) predeceased Kitty.

Kitty’s husband, Major Gordon Blenis (USAF) predeceased her in 2002, after which she moved from Niceville, Florida to the Air Force Village Retirement Community (now Blue Skies of Texas) in San Antonio, Texas. Kitty traveled the world with Gordon in service to our country. After Gordon’s retirement from the service, they continued to enjoy trips all over the world. She enjoyed planning dinner parties, cooking, crafts and entertaining guests wherever she found herself in the world. She loved to dance! She and Gordon went dancing at least once a week. She danced with a lot of men in the room at her 90th birthday party, and she danced with her nephew, Max, at her 100th birthday party. She made friends easily and kept in touch with them throughout the country and the world. Though Kitty and Gordon did not have children of their own they were “Aunt” and “Uncle” to hundreds of children who may have been neighbors, children of fellow service members, family members, or extended family members.

Kitty dressed impeccably every day. She often wore dresses she made from material she purchased in a country in which she and her husband were stationed. She hand-crafted some of the jewelry she wore, often coordinating with her outfits. Her crafts were recognized in contests sponsored by the State of Texas for which she received awards. She even taught herself how to use a drill press in the maintenance shop at the Village, and would drill holes in glass blocks into which she filled with a string of small lights and tied with a beautiful ribbon and bow as gifts for friends and family.

She was involved with many clubs and committees over the years, often taking on a leadership role. She taught her arts and crafts to many others and would make gift bags to bring happiness to people in nursing homes on holidays. At Blue Skies, she became very involved with the seasonal fashion shows, arranging for local stores and boutiques to bring their fashions to the Village. The clothes were modeled by the Blue Skies residents during a luncheon and many outfits were purchased during the shows.

Whether one called her Vadis, Kitty, Miss Kitty, or Weesie she will be sorely missed by all who knew her and loved her. After all, to have known her is to have loved her. This world will be far less vibrant without her beautiful smile and infectious laugh.

A memorial service will be held on May 13, 2022, at 1:30 in the chapel at Blue Skies of Texas (East), 4917 Ravenswood Drive, San Antonio, Texas. Her remains will be interred with Gordon’s at a private service at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery.