1925 - 2004 Person Name: Richard Blanchard (1925-2004) Author of "Fill My Cup, Lord" in Seventh-day Adventist Hymnal Richard Blanchard Born at Chungking (now Chongqing) China to Methodist missionary parents, they returned to the U S, and lived in IN and NC. In his teens he moved from Wolcottville, IN, to Tryon, NC, bringing his family with him. In his senior year of high-school he worked at a bank. He saved his money, buying war bonds, and eventually purchased lakefront property on Lake Conway in FL. He attended Davidson College for a year, then enlisted in the U S Navy. He received a medical discharge and entered Mercer University, Macon, GA. In 1946 he married Anne Carlton of Oxford, GA, who attended Wesleyan University. They had three children: Richard, Jr, Carol Ann, and Emily. After graduating from Mercer, he enrolled at Candler School of Theology at Emory University, Atlanta, GA, receiving his Bachelor of Divinity that same year. In 1949 he was ordained a deacon, the next year an elder, after serving two years as pastor of the ‘Four-Church Snellville-Grayson’ circuit of the North GA Methodist Church. In 1950 he transferred to the FL circuit. He served congregations in Fort Lauderdale, Miami, Tampa, Jacksonville, Holiday, and Orlando, where he retired in 1988 after serving 40 years in ministry. He was musical and played the trombone. He also became a songwriter. In the 1980s he wrote a beautiful musical called ‘Francis of Assisi’. Some of his gospel songs were published and recorded. When younger, at Snellville, he wrote a weekly column called ‘Between You and Me’ for the Wesleyan Christian Advocate newsletter. He also wrote a story called ‘The Little Star’, published in Ideals magazine. He wrote an official biography of Bishop John Branscomb for the dedication of the Branscomb Memorial Auditorium in Lakeland, FL. Besides his music, Blanchard loved boating and dining by the water. He also traveled, visiting 75 countries. He loved fine art and visited art museums when possible. He also followed sports. He collected stamps, coins, and played word games. He loved meeting and helping others. In later years he and his wife moved to Swannanoa, NC, to be near their children. He eventually died there.
John Perry
Richard Blanchard
My Starred Hymns
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