She was born in Decatur, Illinois on October 28, 1932 to Carl and Ruth Raupp, who operated a shoe store that is still operated by members of the Raupp family. Her father died when she was a young girl and her mother raised her siblings and her. Nancy graduated from St. Teresa’s High School in Decatur and then attended Fontbonne College in St. Louis where she graduated with high honors in mathematics with a chemistry minor. While in college she had a blind double date with Joseph Blanton, who was then a medical student at St. Louis University. They began dating and would pool their money for dates at the Parkmoor and the Esquire Theatre near Fontbonne while making sure that Joseph had 15 cents for the street car ride home.
When Dr. Blanton left for his pediatrics training at Children’s Hospital of Cincinnati, they lost touch. While Dr. Blanton was returning to Southeast Missouri on a train, he had a stop in Decatur and called the Raupp home. The phone rang nine times and Dr. Blanton almost hung-up. On the tenth ring, Nancy answered the phone and they began dating again. They were together until Dr. Blanton passed in the Summer of 2020.
Nancy and Joseph were married on June 16, 1956 in Decatur, Illinois with Judge Lewis Blanton as best man and Nancy’s sister Ruth as maid of honor. Nancy moved to Cincinnati where the couple lived while Dr. Blanton finished his training. She provided the financial support while he worked for $150 per month. Nancy worked in the first group of female management trainees at Procter and Gamble’s world headquarters in Cincinnati. After Dr. Blanton finished his chief residency at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, they moved to Virginia where he served in the U. S. Navy as a Lieutenant Commander and pediatrician at the Portsmouth, Virginia Naval Hospital. After his service in the navy, the family moved back to Southeast Missouri where Dr. Blanton practiced pediatrics for sixty years.
Mrs. Blanton is survived by her four children: Joseph C. Blanton, Jr. (Felecia) of Sikeston, Dr. Mark G. Blanton of Sikeston, Madeline R. Kerr (Dr. Knox) of Jacksonville, Florida, and Dr. Kevin Blanton (Amy) of Sikeston and seven grandchildren: Mark David Blanton, James Knox “Jake” Kerr, IV, Cullen Lewis Kerr, Elizabeth Anne Blanton, Luke Norton Blanton, Grace Olivia Blanton, and Caroline Rose Blanton, and her fourth West Highland White Terrier, Precious. She is also survived by one brother, James Raupp of Decatur, Illinois. She was preceded in death by her parents, Carl and Ruth Raupp, and siblings Sister Ruth Margaret Raupp, Marguerite McNamara, Elizabeth Barnett, William Raupp, Ruth Erker, and Richard Raupp.
Nancy volunteered at the Head Start program in Sikeston and supported all civic-improvement activities. When her children were students in Sikeston schools, she claimed there was no math problem she could not solve and enjoyed helping both her children and their friends at the dining room table with their math, science, and other homework for as long as it took. Nancy was a diligent Cubs fan, identifier of bargain antique furniture, toys and banks, fearless but honest player of bridge and other card games, and tireless gardener. During her children’s adult years, she hosted a mandatory family dinner every Sunday night at 6 PM. Dr. Joe and she spent a major portion of the last thirty years of their lives devoted to their son Mark who had been injured in an auto accident.
Nancy was especially close to Almeter Marshall who worked with her for many years. The family very much appreciates the support of the St. Francis Xavier Parish family and the priests who have served there. Nancy attended daily mass for decades. The family also thanks the caregivers who helped with Mark’s care over the years and with her care more recently, especially Sandra Douglas, Lamar Douglas, Zylphia Douglas, Bonnie Foote, JoAnn Smithson, and Josie Hutson. The family also thanks the Blanton and Raupp families, the Cotton Trace neighbors, and the entire Sikeston Community for being so kind and supportive.
Visitation is scheduled for Sunday evening, May 22nd from 5 pm until time of rosary at 7 pm at the Nunnelee Funeral Home in Sikeston. A funeral mass will be celebrated at 10 am on Monday, May 23rd at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church. Nancy will be buried next to Dr. Joe and near her in-laws at the Sikeston City Cemetery.
Pallbearers will be her grandchildren and nieces and nephews.
The family suggests memorial contributions to St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, the Sikeston Public Library or a charity of choice.
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