Karen Sue Blanchard

Karen Sue Blanchard, 81, of Defiance, peacefully passed away on Sunday, April 6, 2025, at CHP Defiance Area Inpatient Hospice Center.  

She was born in Defiance, Ohio on January 19, 1944, to John and Luella Blanchard. Karen lived in Ayersville most of her life and was a 1966 graduate of Defiance College. She earned her Master's Degree from St. Francis College in Ft. Wayne, IN. She attended and loved her faithful family at Bethel Christian Church of Arthur. 

Karen worked for 10 years as a high school teacher, worked for Western-Southern Life Insurance Company for 3 years and was a member of their President's Club. She worked at Quadco Rehabilitation Center for 3 years before joining Fulton County Jobs and Family Services, where she worked as a social worker and ultimately as a supervisor over the foster care/adoption area for 18 years until her retirement.  One of the highlights of her life were the years she sang Southern Gospel Music in a women's quartet named "Good News". She loved to watch the birds come to the feeders and the hummingbirds that arrived each spring. Fondest memories were from the many trips she made with family and friends to the Great Smoky Mountains, and the hiking trips with her friends when she was younger. Karen never met a stranger and would share stories with people she met on the street. Karen was a social butterfly. 

Karen was the last in her generation and is survived by nieces and nephews; Bill & Lynn Davenport, Kelly Shaffer, Kathi & Bob Diamond, Mike & Raye Davenport, nine great-nieces and nephews and 16 great-great-nieces and nephews. 

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her sisters, Lael Joan Davenport and Janice Blanchard, and baby brother, William Earl. 

Visitation will be held on Friday, April 11, 2025, from 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm at Schaffer Funeral Home in Defiance. A funeral service will be at 11:00 am on Saturday, April 12th at Bethel Christian Church of Arthur, with Pastor Chris Baker officiating. There will be one hour of additional visitation before the service at the church. Karen will be laid to rest in Ayersville Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be given to Bethel Christian Church of Arthur, or CHP Defiance Area Hospice.

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