Gary P. Blanford

Gary Blanford, 75 of Kettering, Ohio, passed away on November 10, 2026, in Centerville, Ohio. He was born on December 9, 1950 in Dayton, Ohio, the son of Joe and Mary “Tutie” (Frei) Blanford, and sibling of Pete, Tom, David, Denis, Mary Lynn and Kim. Gary was part of Belmont High School’s graduating class of 1969, and he served in the Air Force shortly after graduation where he was a medevac in the Vietnam War. Gary is survived by his wife Sue and their two daughters, Anna (Critt) and Emily, and his granddaughter Emma.

A Christian Burial Memorial Mass to honor Gary's life will be held on November 20, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. at Ascension Church located at 2025 Woodman Dr, Kettering, OH with a luncheon reception to follow.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to PBS or the Katmai Conservancy in Gary’s memory.

If you were looking to find Gary in his ‘Happy Place” there are a few places you could search.

Take off your shoes and feel the sands of Mexico Beach under your feet as you walk down the beachfront. Travel along the ocean’s edge until you see a kite or two circling near the shore line; the kites you should look for are a problematic Kung-fu Master or an expansive Octopus with its giant tentacles streaming in the sun on the salty, breeze; either way you are at the right place. Gary’s Place. You will find Gary there smiling, beer in hand, as he sets up homemade rockets to launch or maybe returning from kayaking out in the waves. Or maybe he is down there by the grill getting dinner together for the family. He loves his family very much, and it's very likely that if you showed up at the right time of night you will be able to play a game of Farkle, poker or maybe hop in the car and go with them all to get ice-cream; if his granddaughter Emma was there, you might even get more than one ice-cream ride.

Another place you might find Gary was at home with his devoted wife of 48 years, Sue, and their dogs. Gary said they are “just dogs” despite giving them constant cuddles and slid them down his leg while watching PBS on the television. At home, he was busy taking care of any problem that arises with unique and creative solutions. His solutions extend beyond his house to the homes of his daughters, Anna and Emily. Gary never met a problem he could not solve.

You could also find Gary star-gazing on a clear night, maybe enjoying nature with just his eyes or maybe he was using his telescope to explore the night. He would probably be wearing a UD Flyers hoodie with the hood pulled up. You might find him sitting outside during the day watching birds fly by. He loves watching animals eat! The side yard of his house is filled with bird feeders. It was always a special treat for him when the humming birds swoop in to feed at his pink lemonade honeysuckle vine. His love of nature cannot be limited to local animals either; in the internet age, he watched fat grizzly bears fishing at Brooks Falls in Alaska, a joy he shares with them. But Gary was fair-minded with the fish too; he would hit the Fish Doorbell in the Spring from his computer to help fish swimming upstream to spawn in the Netherlands get through the Weerdsluis, a lock on the Kromme Rijn.

The University of Dayton Arena was another place to look for Gary. He was a Faithful Flyer, especially cheering on the women’s and men’s basketball teams. His wardrobe was a testament to his devotion to the Flyers from his head all the way to his toes, often being dressed in red and blue.

Gary could be quiet, sometimes he was reflecting; but often, he was just waiting for the right time to say something singular and witty. No matter where you found Gary, the constant was his love and pride for his wife, his two daughters, his granddaughter and all his family, especially his nephews and nieces. His childhood friends were not too far away either. Those he loved, Gary kept close, and in a soft voice shared his love while he looked out for and protected them.