Bonner Blanchard

Bonner Owen Joseph Blanchard, 88, a native of Houma, La., died Sunday, Aug. 8, 2010.

Mr. Bonner was a retired Army chief warrant officer. He entered military service in 1939 and retired in 1972 after having served 31 years. He was a member of the 31st Infantry Division of Louisiana, which was one of the first divisions to deploy to Europe and remained there for the duration of World War II. He then served in the 325th Glider Infantry and had also served with the 23rd Division, 1st Cavalry Division and the 82nd and 11th Airborne Divisions. He served two tours of duty in Korea, receiving the United Nations Korean Medal and two tours in Vietnam and was the recipient of the Bronze Starl, which was awarded to him by the Marines for service with them at the Battle of Quang Tri in Vietnam. He was a master parachutist, a master of explosive ordinance disposal, a deep-sea diver and was a nuclear weapons officer. A Mason, he was also a member of the First Baptist Church and was a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the American Radio Relay League as a HAM radio operator.

He is survived by his wife, Gwendolyn Sholar Blanchard; son, Jonathan Mark Bonner Blanchard; sister, Rena Blanchard Domangue; and three grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Elgin Joseph and Nora Blanchard.

He is buried at Kentucky Veterans Cemetery-West.

Memorials may be made to Gideon’s International.

(Hughart and Beard Funeral Home of Hopkinsville, Ky.)