Gary Gilbert Blanchard

He was a pilot.

Survivors include his wife, Shirley; two sons, Mark Louis of Santa Rosa, California and Eric Glen of Cedaredge; two daughters, Marin Lieb of Beulah, California and Corin Blanchard of Montrose; and three grandchildren.

Gary Gilbert Blanchard

November 29, 1930 - April 2, 2016

Gary G. Blanchard died at HopeWest Hospice Care Center on April 2, 2016 in Grand Junction, CO at the age of 85.

Gary was born in Glendale, CA on November 29, 1930. He was privileged to attend Black-Foxe Military Institute for part of his elementary education. He moved to Paonia, CO and completed high school there and graduated in 1949. From there he attended Colorado A&M College now known as Colorado State University getting a degree of Bachelor of Science in Agriculture in 1954. While attending college he entered into the Air Force Reserve Officers' Training Corps. From there he was off to the Air Force and fortunate to be able to attend flight school to learn to become a pilot. After military service he was employed by Frontier Air Lines and Continental Airlines as a commercial pilot until retirement.

Gary resided in the Denver area for many years and moved to Grand Junction in 1997. He was involved in volunteering for the Division of Wildlife and the Grand Junction Visitors Center. Because he was such an adventurist and avid fisherman his children and grandchildren are blessed with these gifts.

Survivors include his wife, Shirley; sons, Mark Louis of Santa Rosa, CA, and Eric Glen of Cedaredge, CO; daughters, Marin (David) Lieb of Beulah, CO, and Corin Blanchard of Montrose, CO. There are three grandchildren, Megan Merkosky, Christopher Lieb and Chelsea Heitzmann.

Burial has taken place in Paonia at Cedar Hill Cemetery. A memorial service will be held Saturday, April 23, at 11:00 a.m. at American Lutheran Church, 631 26 1/2 Road, Grand Junction.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made payable to American Lutheran Church, in memory of Gary Blanchard.

Published in The Daily Sentinel on Apr. 12, 2016