Blanche Panunto

Blanche Ellen Mecleary was born the only child of Paul Jones Mecleary and Blanche Rhodes Mecleary Newsom on October 15, 1937 in Philadelphia, PA. At a very tender age she married her sweetheart Anthony Stanley Panunto and began a full and adventurous life as a military wife and mother. She and Tony eventually welcomed sons Paul Panunto (wife, Jenny) of Camp Wood, Texas, Christopher Panunto who died as a youngster, Vincent Panunto of Chester, VA and Larry Curry of Newport News, VA. During their years of marriage they became foster parents to many young children. As a young teen Blanche was a regular on the American Bandstand show in Philadelphia, PA and served as the President of the Frank Sinatra Fan Club there. In her role as a military wife she worked twenty or more years as Financial Manager of the Fort Monroe NCO Club. All the while she and Tony cared for all their family and the foster children coming and going through their home in Virginia. Her life always was about service, military, family and community. After losing her husband to cancer in 1995, she moved to Carlyss, LA to begin a new life. There she became quite the social butterfly and met Charles Ellender with whom she danced a couple of times a week, played weekly games and socialized with their many friends. She was loved by everyone she ever met, hosting many gatherings in her home for her friends and neighbors. She and Charles were known for growing the most and best tomatoes and cucumbers. She will be deeply missed by Charles. Among her many interests she believed in being of service to help the needy and seniors of her community. For many years she was a member of the Singles Club, Care Help of Sulphur, LA and eventually a very dedicated member of the Senior Center of Sulphur, LA. Left to cherish her memory are four grandchildren Stephanie Register Walker (Derek) of Deer Park, TX, Katie Panunto of Fort Mill, SC, Brandon Johnson (wife, Candace) of Hemphill, TX, Shon Christopher Panunto of Camp Wood, TX and Dylan Panunto of Chester, VA, three great-grandchildren Addison, Reese and Conor, and five sisters Maryann Guckin Vacca (Butch), Barbara Plousis, Marie Giampa, Agnes (Rich) Camillo all of Pennsylvania and Nancy Story (Russ) of North Carolina and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband and their young son. She left this world peacefully in Kerrville, TX on August 23, 2021. Her remains will be interred at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, VA with her husband, Tony and son Christopher. In her memory the family wishes that donations go to the Alzheimer's Association or the Senior Center of Sulphur, LA. Sign Guestbook>> 1 Condolence(s) Tammy Raab Kerrville, TX Tuesday, September 7, 2021 I was blessed with getting to know and be one of the many people that cared for Blanche at River Point of Kerrville. She truly was a sweet and caring soul. She will definitely be missed. ߘ¢