
~ IN MEMORY ~
USAF veteran, WA/DL Capt. Bob Blanchard
August 22, 1939 ~ May 14, 2025
From family comes word with the passing of retired Western/Delta pilot Captain Robert “Bob” Brooks Blanchard, age 85. Bob joined Western Airlines 04-03-1969 and retired with Delta Air Lines in 1999 based LAX. A memorial service and reception will be held May 30th….please see details below. Bob is survived by his wife Lynn, and by his children and their families.
Concolences may be sent to the family at
648 9TH ST. , MANHATTAN BEACH CA 90266-5802
Pilot, Family Man, Storyteller
Retired Delta 737 captain and Hughes Aircraft Company engineer, Robert Brooks “Bob” Blanchard Sr., 85, of Manhattan Beach died at home on May 14.
Bob was born Aug. 22, 1939 in Kenansville, N.C. to Oscar Charles and Laura Brooks Blanchard. He grew up in Wallace, N.C., graduating from Wallace-Rose Hill High School and NC State University, with a Bachelor of Science in chemical engineering.
He was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force through the AFROTC and joined the USAF as a pilot, ultimately flying the F-102 Deuce in fighter interceptor missions out of Misawa, Japan in the mid-1960s. He later flew the F-104 Starfighter at Eglin Air Force Base.
Upon leaving active duty, he had two careers—27 years as an engineer at Hughes Aircraft Co. and 30 years as a pilot for Western Airlines, which eventually became Delta. At Hughes, he worked on a number of breakthrough airborne systems, including heads-up displays that are now standard on 737 and 787 aircraft. For the airlines, he served as scheduling committee chair and helped computerize the pilot schedule bidding process. He also served as a pilot representative for two contract negotiations.
Bob was a man of many adventures who never lost his love for flying—traveling often to his beloved Topsail Island, NC, and throughout the Americas and the world, including Africa, China, and Europe. He loved sharing good times with family and friends. An enthusiastic storyteller, he is remembered as someone who never met a stranger. Bob was a loving husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle and friend.
Bob is survived by his wife, Lynn; children Sabrina, Judson and Dana; nephew Jarrod, and a large extended family. He was preceded in death by his parents, his sister, Mary Jo, and son, Brooks.
A memorial service and reception will be held May 30, 2025 at noon at
Journey of Faith church, 1243 Artesia Blvd., Manhattan Beach.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the American Cancer Society or charity of your choice.
Condolences may be sent to the family at
648 9TH ST. , MANHATTAN BEACH CA 90266-5802