James H. Blanche

James H. Blanche, age 73, longtime resident of Lodi and Ovid, died at Strong Memorial Hospital on Tuesday, November 19, 2024 surrounded by his family.

Jim was born in Clifton Springs on August 13, 1951, a son of Joseph and Helen (Ward) Blanche, he proudly served his country in the US Army during the Viet Nam era. He was married to Pam Law of Lodi and had worked as a groundskeeper at Willard Psychiatric Center and then SUNY Upstate Medical Center. Later he worked at Seneca Meadows where he earned the nickname “Papa Smurf”. Jim loved to hunt and fish and will be forever remembered for his ongoing scrapping endeavors!

Jim is survived by his children; Brenda (Jeffery) VanEtten of Watkins Glen, Jamie Blanche of Ovid, Mark (Amanda) Blanche of Penn Yan and Ashley (Damon) Blanche of Waterloo, his grandchildren; Ava Barber, Skylar Howard, Emily, Alyssa and Toni Vangalio, Mathew Moore, Savannah, Anabelle and Mattie Blanche and Carter Nielsen, and a sister; Kathy (Michael) Landschoot of Amelia, VA. He was preceded in death by his wife, Pam in 2023, an infant son, Joseph James; his parents; Joseph Blanche and Helen Pitts, and sister, Jane Shepherd.

The family will receive friends at Covert Funeral Home in Ovid on Monday, November 25, 2024 from 10:00am to 11:00am. A funeral service will immediately follow at 11:00.  Burial will take place at West Lodi Cemetery after the service. The family will host a gathering to celebrate Jim at a later date.