Edward Charles Blankschen died at St. Mary’s Hospital, Tucson, on Friday, October 14, 2016, after a brief illness. He was a son of the late Elton Wilcox Blankschen and Hazel Marie Wigre Blankschen. Edward was born on September 30, 1944, in Bridgeport, CT, where he grew up. He later moved to Milford, CT, and retired to Tucson in 2007. He is survived by his wife of 44 years, Leslie Bedron Blankschen; his daughter, Emily Rose Blankschen Puller and her husband Kyle Puller of Cape Town, South Africa; his brother Robert and wife Agnes of Danbury, CT; his sister Gail LaSella and husband John of Milford, CT; his half-brother Warren Blankschen and wife Denise of Gautier, MS; his step-sister Diane Ryan of Oviedo, FL; and many nieces and nephews and their children. Edward graduated from Bullard-Havens Regional Technical School and attended the University of Bridgeport. He served in the United States Navy during the Vietnam War from 1962 until 1966 aboard the U.S.S. Galveston. In 1972 he joined the Connecticut Army National Guard from which he retired in 2004 as a Warrant Officer 3. Proudly serving his nation was a family tradition; he was a direct descendant of Capt. John Crane who served in the Revolutionary War. Edward was a member of the U.S.S. Galveston Shipmates’ Association, the Military Officers of America Association, the United States of America Warrant Officers’ Association, and the Fort Lowell-Apache Chapter of the United States Army Warrant Officers’ Association. Edward will be greatly missed by his family and by all who knew him. He was cheerful and outgoing and lived to make other people’s days a little brighter. The family would like to thank the doctors, nurses, and staff of St. Mary’s Hospital for the excellent care that they provided for Edward. In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions be made to the Gospel Rescue Mission, 707 W. Miracle Mile Rd, Tucson, AZ 85705.