Richard Blighton

Richard Blighton, 87, of Eau Claire, died Wednesday, March 14, 2018, at Hanson Hospice Center in Stevensville.

Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Monday, March 19, at Bowerman Funeral Home, Eau Claire, with Rev. Kevin Parkins officiating. Visitation will be 2-4 p.m. Sunday, March 18, at the funeral home; online messages www.bowermanfuneral.com. Memorial donations may be made to Hanson Hospice Center, or Friends in Faith Community Church in Eau Claire, where Richard and Helen were members.

Richard was born June 6, 1930, in Benton Harbor, the son of Rant W. and Olive Mabel Blighton. He graduated from Benton Harbor High School in 1949, and he served with the U.S. Navy from 1951-1956. He married Helen M. Sherwood on June 14, 1952. A lifetime farmer, he was most proud of his 50-acre “garden”, bought in 1955. He was employed over the years in factories and construction work, and his last and favorite job was as the head of maintenance and grounds-keeping at the Eau Claire Public School System, retiring after 20 years.

Survivors include one brother, Floyd Blighton of Woodruff, South Carolina; his four children: Leslie (Frederick) Leitz of Sodus, Denise (Larry) Westerhoven and Richard L. (Beth) Blighton of Benton Harbor, Rant W. (Dawn) Blighton of Eau Claire; eight grandchildren: Karah (Robert) Eaton, Broderick (Alexandrea) Leitz, Gretchen (Andrew) Steinke, Lauren (Philip) Coulson, Marcie (Thomas) Reilly, Richard Cody Blighton, Rant M. Blighton and Nathan Blighton; and seven great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents, three sisters, three brothers, his wife of 64 years, and one grandson.