Frederick Eugene Blanton, Sr., age 77

Frederick Eugene Blanton, Sr., age 77, of Panama City, FL, passed away Friday, January 11, 2013. 

Fred was born February 27, 1935, in Forest City, NC, the son of Helen Eugenia Blackburn and Leon Frank Frye.  Fred graduated from Cool Springs High School in Forest City, NC in 1954.  

Fred married Nancy Jane Tate on April 21, 1956, in Forest City, NC., and together had three children: Frederick Eugene Blanton, Jr., Lisa Ann Blanton, and Beverly Jean Blanton Provost.

Fred served in the US Army with the Fifth Infantry Division, in the WWII Occupational Force in Augsburg Germany, later at Fort Ord in California, and finally in the Signal Corps at Ft. Meade in Maryland.  After honorably discharged in 1958, Fred attended college on the GI Bill at North Carolina State in Raleigh, NC, and Clemson University in SC.  

Fred had a long distinguished career in the farm implement business, including management of the Massey-Ferguson dealership in Winston-Salem, NC, the Ford Tractor dealership in Huntsville AL , and the John Deere dealership in Fayetteville, TN.

Fred married Landra Eileen McGlaun on July 15, 1977, in Huntsville, AL, resided in Fayetteville, TN, and later moved to the Florida Panhandle in 1983, where he established a second career in boat sales, culminating in co-management of PC Yachts at Sun Harbor Marina in Panama City.

Fred was a life-long Democrat and out-spoken advocate for the poor and underprivileged.  He was also an avid promoter of better government, and was a long-time volunteer for Common Cause, serving as a Congressional District Coordinator in Huntsville, AL, a State Coordinator in Tennessee, and ultimately served on the Common Cause National Governing Board in Washington, DC.  Fred was also an ardent supporter of fellow US Veterans, especially with the issues of post-service care and benefits.

Fred is survived by his wife of 35 years Landra Eileen McGlaun Blanton, son Frederick Eugene Blanton Jr., and son-in-law Bobby Ashton Barron, of Staunton, VA; daughter Lisa Ann Blanton and son-in-law Norman Teague Froscher of Royal Palm Beach, FL; and daughter Beverly Jean Blanton Provost, and son-in-law Marc Adrien Provost of Coral Springs, FL.  Fred is survived by three grandchildren: Airman Jordan Merrick Froscher, USAF, Melissa Ann Provost, and Bryan Paul Provost.  Fred is also survived by his half-sister Suzie Frye Caldwell, of Cornelius, NC.  

A memorial service was held at Kent-Forest Lawn Funeral Home, in Panama City FL.

Fred will be interred at a U.S. National Cemetery in Florida, on a date to be determined.

Donations may be made in honor of Frederick Eugene Blanton, Sr. to either the Wounded Warriors Project, (www.woundedwarriorproject.org), or to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (www.jdrf.org), in consideration of his grandson Bryan.

Kent Forest Lawn Funeral Home in Panama City, FL is serving the family.