Wesley K. (Wes) Blanchard, passed on March 18, 2026, at age 92. Born in Silver Creek, NY on July 8, 1933, graduated from high school in Winter Haven, FL. Received a BS in Commerce degree from The Citadel, in Charleston, SC. Later he received a master’s degree in Personnel Management from Central Michigan University.
Spent 23 years in the Air Force, retiring in 1978 as a Lt. Colonel, command pilot, with 4,600 flying hours, including 40 combat missions in Southeast Asia. He held numerous staff and command positions, including Commander of the 54th Flying Training Squadron at Reese AFB, Lubbock, TX.
He married Malakie Kazal in 1957. During their almost 61 years of marriage, they raised 3 children: Teresa L. Pommer (Al) of Lubbock, TX, Wesley B. Blanchard (Judy) of Arlington, TX, and Marea B. Turnbull (Scott) of Tucson, AZ. They enjoyed 5 grandchildren: Wesley Blanchard of Arlington, TX; Robert Blanchard of Austin, TX; Zachery Pommer of Lubbock, TX; Danielle Turnbull of Phoenix, AZ; and Garrett Turnbull of Tucson, AZ. In addition, he had 2 great grandchildren, Quinn and Jameson.
After retiring from the Air Force in 1978, Wes and Malakie moved to Alamogordo, NM, where he was a registered representative, district manager, trainer, and seminar director with an international financial marketing company. While in New Mexico, Wes was active in the Westminster Presbyterian Church, the Gideons, the Noon Kiwanis Club, the Alamogordo Public School Facilities Task Force, and the Military Officers Association of America. After moving to Lubbock in 2017, he was a member of the Providence Presbyterian church, continued his work with the Gideons, and enjoyed volunteer activities with Hospice of Lubbock.
Wesley’s wife, Malakie, passed in 2018, 8 months after they had moved to Lubbock. Their grandson Zachary Pommer passed in 2016.
All glory to God alone! Amen
A visitation will be held at Resthaven Funeral Home on Sunday, March 22nd from 4-6 p.m. Services for Wes will be held on Monday, March 23, 2026, 10 a.m. in the Abbey Chapel at Resthaven Funeral Home.
