Bill Blanchard, 74, passed away Sunday, Oct. 6, 2013, after a long and courageous battle with cancer. Funeral: 1:30 p.m. Friday in Greenwood Funeral Home Chapel. Interment: Greenwood Memorial Park. William "Bill" Herbert Blanchard II was born in San Antonio on Aug. 19, 1939. His parents were William and Ethel Blanchard. His father went on to be a four-star general in the Air Force. Bill's family moved to Fort Worth when his father was stationed at Carswell Air Force Base. He attended Monnig Middle School and Arlington Heights High School. He went on to the Air Force Academy and the University of Texas. Professionally he founded William H Blanchard & Associates, an insurance agency specializing in and serving the rental industry across Texas and Louisiana. Through the insurance business, he met and served what would turn out to be some of his closest friends. He and his wife, Sandi, still owned/operated the agency up until early 2013. Bill's hobbies included fishing, hunting, golf, visiting the casino and enjoying life. The two places he loved to visit the most were fishing the long bar in the Laguna Madre off of South Padre Island and deer hunting in Mexico. He started hunting in Mexico in 1972 and was one of the first Americans to pioneer whitetail deer hunting in Mexico. Anyone who had the privilege of going with him to either was considered a friend. His passion for life and will to win will always be remembered by those who loved him the most. He was preceded in death by his daughter, Christina Blanchard Bonnell; mother, Ethel Simmons Sims; and his father, Gen. William H. Blanchard. Survivors: Wife, Sandi Blanchard of Granbury; daughter, Diana Blanchard of Fort Worth; son and daughter-in-law, William and Beth Blanchard of Fort Worth; and grandchildren, William Downing, Macee Blanchard, Payton Blanchard, William D. Blanchard and Ellie Blanchard.
Published in Star-Telegram on October 9, 2013