Donald R. Jeanblanc

Donald Ray Jeanblanc was born May 22, 1943 in Louisville, Kentucky, and died on January 25, 2018 in Havre de Grace, Maryland. He was the son of Muriel (Kent) Jeanblanc and Lindsey Raymond Jeanblanc. He leaves behind his wife of 51 years, Janet Ransom Jeanblanc, daughter Susan Jeanblanc Cohen and husband Curtis of Havre de Grace, MD, son Mark Edward Jeanblanc and wife Sarah of Baltimore, MD and four grandchildren, Lindsey Cohen, Ethan Cohen, Noah Jeanblanc and Will Jeanblanc, as well as his brother, James Jeanblanc and wife Barbara of Arlington, Virginia. He was preceeded in death by his parents and a brother, Edward Wayne Jeanblanc. He lived as a child in Webster Groves, Missouri and later in Franklin Grove, Illinois, but spent the last 42 years of his life at Havre de Grace, Maryland. He graduated from the University of Illinois with Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees in Electrical Engineering. While at U of I he had a research assistanceship which involved bouncing radio signals off the moon. He served in the US Army, attaining the rank of Captain. He was the Radio Officer for the 101st Airborne Division and received the Bronze Star Medal for outstanding meritorious service in Vietnam in 1969. As a civilian he worked briefly as a design engineer for Ford Motor Company, but spent most of his career working for the Dept. of the Army at Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD. In the Air Defense Division, he was in charge of the testing of short-range defense missles and, at the end of his career, he was Chief of the Artillery & Aviation Division at the Test and Evaluation Command. His hobbies included gardening and amateur radio, and he also earned his private pilot's license. For many years he helped provide communications for the annual March of Dimes Walk-a-thon. When his son was young, he was a Little League Baseball coach in Havre de Grace, as well as a Cub Scout Webelos leader. His favorite vacation spot was Ocracoke Island, North Carolina. He was active in Masonic organizations, serving as Worshipful Master of Aberdeen Lodge No. 187, Associate Bethel Guardian of Maryland Bethels 11 and 55 of Job's Daughters International and was a member of Victory Chapter #40, OES, National Sojourners and Heroes of '76. He was a longtime member of Grace United Methodist Church in Aberdeen, MD, and after his retirement he volunteered with his church at Martha's Meal soup kitchen. Visitation will take place on February 3 from 9:30-10:45 at Grace United Methodist Church, Aberdeen, with the funeral at 11 am. A reception will follow in the Fellowship Hall. Burial will be at Baker Cemetery, Aberdeen. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to Grace United Methodist Church, Aberdeen or Steppingstone Museum, Havre de Grace, MD.