COLUMBIA - A graveside service will be held for Blanche Kaplan, 90, at 3:00 p.m. Monday, November 16, 2015, at Beth Shalom Cemetery, 1300 Whaley Street. Blanche’s life will be remembered with family and friends at the Beth Shalom Synagogue at 5827 Trenholm Road following the service. Dunbar Funeral Home, Devine Street Chapel is assisting the family. Blanche Kaplan had three loves in her life- her family for whom she would do anything, her religion which was the underpinning of her life, and her joy in living she held as precious and privileged to experience. Mrs. Kaplan died November 14, 2015 in Wildewood Downs Skilled Nursing in Columbia, SC, at the age of 90. Born on October 21, 1925, Blanche was the daughter of the late Minnie and Joseph Marcus and the youngest of three children. She grew up in the Bronx, New York. She completed her Associates Degree from Hunter College in Manhattan and with a natural affinity for numbers, she worked for the Behrman Accounting firm in NYC. The single most important moment of her life happened when she was 16. Blanche didn’t know she had met the love of her life, Saul Kaplan, but she had when her older sister’s double date walked into the room. Blanche wrote Saul when he was stationed in the Philippines during WWII, and their pen pal relationship blossomed upon his return four years later. It was love at first sight. Blanche and Saul married one year later and moved to Columbia in 1946. Opening an independent grocery store in 1946, Blanche worked with Saul until his sudden death in 1976. She chose to return to her original profession of bookkeeping and was working for Theodore Insurance upon her retirement at almost 80 in 2004. Blanche was an avid reader until macular degeneration stole her eye sight the last three years of her life. She loved Broadway musicals, sports, especially the Braves, Falcons and anything USC, and having loved numbers, she excelled in cards and board games. She was a life member of Hadassah, a member of Beth Shalom Synagogue, a notary and supporter of numerous charities including, but not limited to The Heart Association, Macular Degeneration Foundation, World Wildlife, The Humane Society and Cancer Society. Blanche is survived by her children, Carolyn Kaplan, Marsha Thompson, Perry Thompson and Ina Kaplan. The family wishes to thank all the wonderful professionals from Palmetto Heath Acute Care for the Elderly, Senior Primary Care, Palmetto Health Hospice and Wildewood Downs who cared for Blanche and honored her with dignity, compassion and quality care. We are eternally grateful. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Beth Shalom Synagogue, 5827 N. Trenholm Road, Columbia, SC 29206 or The American Macular Degeneration Foundation, P.O. Box 515, Northampton, Massachusetts 01061-0515.
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