Major John Vernon Blondell's Obituary
John Vernon Blondell, a retired Army major and veteran, died on Wednesday, February 21st, 2024, at Holy Cross Germantown Hospital.
John was born to Vernon Jerome and Helen Elizabeth (Martin) Blondell on June 29, 1937, in Baltimore, MD.
Before entering the Army, he graduated in 1959 from Virginia Polytechnic Institute in the ROTC program with a BS in Chemical Engineering. While at VPI, he was a member of the Swimming and Diving team and competed in the NCAA Southern Conference in 1-Meter and 3-Meter Diving.
Initially commissioned into active-duty civil service in 1959, he was assigned to Fort Belvoir, VA in the US Army Engineering, Research and Development Labs. In 1962, he was commissioned into the regular Army as a 1st Lieutenant assigned to Army Ordinance Missile Command in Redstone Arsenal, AL where he earned the Army Commendation Medal for Meritorious Service.
During the Vietnam war, Major Blondell served as Company Commander of the 632D Heavy Equipment Maintenance Company, earning him the Bronze Star Medal for Meritorious Achievement in Ground Operations Against Hostile Forces.
In 1975, he served as Senior Logistics Liaison Officer in Korat, Thailand for the US Military Assistance Command earning the Joint Service Commendation Medal for Meritorious Service.
Upon his retirement in 1980, he was awarded The Legion of Merit by the President of the U.S. for exceptionally meritorious service during his 21-year career in the military.
He finished his civilian career at Mitre Corporation working in Operations Research.
A loving father and husband, he is survived by his wife, Rose, 3 daughters: Heather B. Shanton, Erin P. Murphy, Cari E. Presley, and their spouses, 2 stepdaughters; Susan Weiner and Kristen Kenedy, 13 grandchildren and 14 great grandchildren. He is also survived by a sister, 2 brothers, sister-in-law, cousins and many nieces and nephews. John was an avid reader, historian, and stock investor. He was also a devoted treasurer, advisor, and Deacon of his church for many years. He was loved for his dry sense of humor and spending time with his family, especially his grandchildren and great grandchildren.
Funeral services for the 86-year-old resident of Kensington, Maryland will be held on Tuesday, March 12, 2024, at the Church of the Atonement on 10613 Georgia Ave, Silver Spring, Maryland at 2 p.m. Flowers or donations may be sent to the Church of the Atonement.
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