BLANTON, Elsie

The Daily Courier, Prescott, Arizona, Wednesday, April 22, 2015 Elsie Blanton Long-time Prescott resident Elsie Blanton has died. She was 94. Born in London in July 1920, she passed away at an assisted living facility in Prescott on April 11, 2015. Elsie came to Prescott as a war bride in 1946, married to Charles Blanton. The two had met in blacked-out London during a theatre performance of Hamlet when then-U.S. Army Tech Sgt. Blanton happened to sit next to an attractive brunette, and they struck up a conversation. Once reunited, they purchased a home on South Alarcon Street where they raised two daughters. During that time Elsie was active in many local organizations. Among them were the Prescott Fine Arts Association, the Yavapai Symphony Association, the Nature Conservancy, the Prescott Outings Club and the Altar Guild at St. Luke's Episcopal Church. She was well known as a Girl Scout leader and a 4-H leader for many years, and a lifetime member of the PTA. She was also a proud member of the Daughters of the British Empire. Decades of children who attended Washington School knew Elsie as the lady who served their lunches. Elsie would entertain her family with stories of living in London during the Blitz, recounting the many dogfights she watched overhead, and the effects or buzz bombs exploding in the neighborhood. In Elsie's accounts, no one was ever hurt, nor was anyone ever discouraged by events. "We just managed," she would say. Elsie was employed in various war-related industries. Elsie is predeceased by her husband, Charles, who passed away in 2001. She is survived by her daughters Ann Abrams of Mission Viejo, California and Margi Jacobsen of Prescott; in addition to four grandchildren, Janet, David, Traci and Kevin; and four great-grandchildren, Tori, Elisa, Lyrek and Amelia. A memorial service is planned for 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, April 25, 2015, at St. Luke's Episcopal Church in Prescott. If inclined, contributions in Elsie's name may be made to St. Luke's, or to the Nature Conservancy. Funeral services were entrusted to Wakelin Family Funeral Homes. Please visit www.ruffnerwakelin.com to view and sign Elsie's guestbook and for directions. Information provided by survivors.