DAVIS JUNCTION — Leta Elaine Blanchard Woolbright, She was born April 16, 1938, the eleventh child to Spencer H. and Eva Opal Etes Blanchard in Byron, Illinois. Went to be with her Lord and Savior on September 1, 2024 in Davis Junction. Leta married Deloss O. Woolbright, the love of her life, on August 10. 1957 in Byron Illinois. Leta taught Sunday School at her first Sunday School at the Whitaker School (country school) she played the piano and helped teach SS. She attended there until her eighth grade, ultimately going to the public school in Byron. Leta graduated from Byron Community High School in 1956. Leta worked during her high school years for General Telephone Company in Byron, Illinois. She then attended Northern Illinois University in DeKalb, Illinois, where she worked as a PBX Operator during her schooling there. After getting married, Leta worked for Illinois Bell Telephone Company, Rockford, Illinois; Southern Bell Telephone Company in Petersburg, Virginia; Cotta Transmission Company in Rockford, Illinois; Kable Printing Company Mt. Morris, Illinois; Hanson Engineers, Rockford, Illinois; Julia Hull Library in Stillman Valley, Illinois, She served as a Director in the AWANA program at the First Baptist Church in Byron, Illinois. Leta was an “AVON Lady” for numerous years and enjoyed her AVON ladies. Leta was given a special opportunity, because of her sales for AVON, won a trip to France and toured there and was able to enjoy a special dinner where Princess Grace spoke. Leta was a member of Kishwaukee Community Evangelical Presbyterian Church and enjoyed singing in the choir and was privileged to be part of the choir at Carnegie Hall in New York and in Vienna, Austria, special unforgettable memories. She also led the children’s choirs at Kish Church, and the AWANA program. She led the adult choir at the First Baptist Church in Byron, played the piano, organ, and guitar (to her own amazement) she confessed that God gave her the gifts and talent and she gave Him all the glory and served Him in that light. She enjoyed sharing in the many Bible study classes and loved the time spent with her friends there. For many years she was a leader and a member of the Bible Study Fellowship (BSF) in Rockford. Leta loved music, i.e. singing, sewing, gardening, golfing, crafting, camping, and most of all spending time with her family, whom she loved very much. Leta found great joy in helping her family and others in time of need. She is survived by her three daughters Laura (Steve) Appleby, Walton, KY; Lisa Bauer, Stillman Valley; Leigh (Steve Shepard) Woolbright, Davis Junction; grandchildren: Heather Appleby Colyer, Walton. KY; Ryan Bauer (Danielle Cicogna) Rockford; Eric Appleby, Kansas City, MO; Drew (Taylor) Whitmire, Cincinnati, OH; Danae Bauer Savitski (Sonny) Rockford; Stephanie Appleby Jensen, St. Louis, MO; and Grace Whitmire, Chicago; great-grandchildren: Bryson, Brady, and Braxton Colyer; Annie and Tobias Jensen; and Aleah Savitsky; brother Charles Blanchard, and sister Marjorie (Dolly) (Al) Todd; and numerous nieces and nephews. Leta was predeceased by her parents; husband, on March 2, 2002; brothers Kenneth Blanchard, Spencer Jr. Blanchard, Herbert Blanchard, Robert Blanchard, and Gerald (Jerry) Blanchard; sisters Shirley Blanchard, Frances Blanchard Buird, Mable Blanchard Johnson, Wanda Blanchard Holeton, Ellen Blanchard Crabb Karstunen, and Cheryl “Jean” Blanchard Mattingley; sisters-in-law Joyce LaRue Blanchard and Sue Blanchard; brother-in-law Bernard P. Buird; nieces Leah Jones Howe, Dawn Johnson Jones Baker, and Teresa K. Blanchard; nephews Dean Lewis Crabb, Robert Blanchard, and Spencer Craig Blanchard; great nephews Dale Ritchard Buird, Shawn Michael Buird, and Jamison Baker. A funeral service will be held noon on Friday, Sept. 6, 2024 at the Farrell-Holland-Gale Funeral Home, 506 West Merchant Street in Byron, Illinois with the Pastor Steve Buird officiating. Visitation will be prior to the service on Friday from 10:00 AM to noon at the Funeral Home. Burial will follow the service at the Byron Cemetery. A memorial fund is established in Leta’s name and may be directed to her family.
