My name is Denis Blanford. I passed away Friday, January 14, 2022, and I am being buried Saturday, January 22, 2022, at 10:30 a.m. Due to Covid, only immediate family can attend, but I’d like for you to log in virtually via this link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/88693564694?pwd=eEw3b2Z6MU51dWRFYTQ3dkdkcldhUT09
Please join the site a few minutes early to see a picture collage of my “catadioptric” life.
I was born in Dayton, Ohio and lived with my father, Joe, my mother, “Tutie” and my six siblings, “Pete”, Tom, David, Mary Lynn, Gary, and Kim. I also have several nieces, nephews, and their families.
Working for NCR for 47 years, I earned and received over 40 awards and patents. I am also an NCR Fellow, the highest award bestowed by NCR.
While working for NCR in Cambridge, Ohio, I met and married my wife, Mary. We have three beautiful daughters, Catherine, Rebecca, and Theresa. Rebecca and her husband, Ryan, are the parents of a wonderful little girl, Isabelle (Izzy) who is my joy and delight.
Through my life, I made special memories for my family. For example, tent camping for a week in 30-degree weather in Hot Springs, Arkansas, (our favorite vacation), instead of basking in the sun in the Bahamas. Or surprising all of them and a priest at the Blessing of the Animals by taking not only our dogs and cats but also pulling my daughters’ “little guys” (hamsters) out several of my pockets. Or telling a French policeman who was giving me a ticket for going through a yellow light “marsee bo coop” in my best Georgian drawl. Or trying to impress Mary while we were dating by telling her I was on the national championship basketball Dayton Flyers team in the ‘60s (I wasn’t) and forgetting to tell her the truth till years later. (I am wearing a Dayton Flyers t-shirt now, a gift from my sister, Mary Lynn in honor of that story.)
I did like all sports but played golf probably the most and the longest. Even after moving from Ohio to Georgia, I met golfing buddies 1-2 times a year in Myrtle Beach for golfing outings. Because of my years of golfing, my family looked for a grave site that resembled a green. They didn’t find one, but instead found one in the woods, in the rough. I spent time there on the golf course too! In fact, the last line of my gravestone will read, “on to the 19th hole”.
These are just a few tidbits of the fun I had and laughs I gave my family. I hope anyone reading this can remember some funny stories with and about me too. Thank you for being my friends and my family and for my wonderful life. ‘Til we meet again…..
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