Donald Blanton

Donald E. Blanton, 82 of Topeka, passed away Tuesday, May 26, 2009 at Brookside Retirement Center in Overbrook. He was born on March 24, 1927 in Dunlap, Kansas the son of Samuel Leslie and Lucy Fern (Moser) Blanton.

Don was a U.S. Army veteran serving during WWII. He was an apprentice electrician, later becoming an electrician and owned and operated Blanton Electric, Inc. He was a member of Golden Rule Lodge #90 AF & AM, Scottish Rite of Freemasonry, Arab Temple Shrine, Morris Co. 4-H Club, Moose Lodge 555, IBEW Local Union 226, 1st Armored Division Association and life member of American Legion Post No. 400 and V.F.W. Post No. 1650.

Don was married to Colleen Calderwood Gerber, she survives. Other survivors include his son, Ronald E. Blanton of Topeka; daughter, Cheryl Pottorf of Topeka; step-daughters, Pam Hendricks of Topeka and Kim Schlobohm of Auburn; sisters, Thelma Walker of Topeka, Carol Cochrill Burton of Las Vegas, NV, and Vicki Eveland of Bullhead City, AZ; brothers, Edwin Blanton of Livingston, TX, Rex Blanton of Wichita, KS, and Vernon Blanton of Las Vegas, NV; seven grandchildren, four step grandchildren, three great grandchildren, and five step great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his son Kirk L. Blanton.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, June 1 at Penwell-Gabel Mid Town Chapel. Burial will follow with military honors conducted by American Legion Post No. 400 at West Lawn Memorial Gardens. Visitation will take place on Sunday from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the funeral home. Memorial contributions may be made to Hereditary Neurological Disease Center, 9340 E Central, Suite L, Wichita, KS 67206.