OBITUARY

Shirley Ruth Blanton

Name: Resthaven/Carr-Tenney Mortuary & Memorial Gardens
Address: Phoenix, AZ

July 6, 1932 – January 1, 2024

IN THE CARE OF

Resthaven/Carr-Tenney Mortuary & Memorial Gardens

Shirley Ruth Blanton, age 91, passed away on January 1, 2024, in Tempe, Arizona. Born in St. Louis, Missouri, on July 6, 1932, Shirley has called Tempe home since 1948. That is the year that her parents, John & Maude Randolph, decided that it was time to move out west from Illinois. She was a graduate of Tempe High School. Shirley met her future husband on a blind date, and in 1950 she married Ralph Coleman Blanton. They began their family with son, Larry Ralph, arriving in 1951 and daughter Terry Ruth, arriving in 1952. That same year, Ralph joined Tempe’s volunteer firefighters, a career move that would shape the lives of this young couple for decades to come. He served the Tempe Fire Department for nearly 30 years, after which Shirley set out to write the department’s history.

Throughout her entire life in Tempe, Shirley was involved in local events and was known for her efforts in recording Tempe’s rich history. A long-time member of the Old Settlers of Tempe – a pioneer organization established by Niels Petersen in 1902 – she contributed many stories to the “Memories of Old Settlers” book published in 1996 to celebrate the 125th anniversary of Tempe. In 2001, Shirley published For Whom the “Town Bull” Tolls: A History of the Tempe Fire Department, 1894 – 2000. In 2003, the Tempe History Museum turned Shirley’s epic history book into an exhibit. In 2007, Shirley published another volume of local history which featured over 200 historic photos. Her Images of America: Tempe book was a wide-reaching history of the city, covering over 130 years of history with a rich assembly of photos and contributors. She also wrote a series of three children’s books in 2017.

Her love of genealogy resulted in many filing cabinets of information. Shirley was well known by many Tempeans, especially with past and current fire and rescue department members. Ralph and Shirley’s home on E. Concorda Drive in Tempe was the host site for many neighborhood block parties. Shirley also loved her trips to the family cabin in Payson.

For their lifetimes of dedication to community service and Tempe’s history, Shirley and Ralph Blanton were featured among Tempe’s century-and-a-half of movers, shakers, and community advocates in the 2016 book Legendary Locals of Tempe. Shirley Blanton’s love of history and community service has placed her among the truly Legendary Tempeans who have inspired love and service dedication in our city.

The Blantons were long-time members of Grace Community Church and Arizona Community Church. Since 2014, Shirley has been an active resident of Friendship Village in Tempe. Shirley enjoyed her membership and friends in the Alpha Kappa Sorority, the Eastern Star, the Tempe Historical Society, and the Old Settlers of Tempe. She also served on the Arizona Bicentennial Committee.

Shirley is survived by her daughter Terry Wilcox; 5 grandchildren, Valerie Rene Wilcox, Alyssa Anne Wilcox, Jared Colin Blanton, Lauren Elizabeth Blanton, and Megan Marie Blanton; and 4 great-grandchildren, Charlotte Halkias Blanton, Eloise Halkias Blanton, Liam Cooper Franklin, and Wyatt Fox Franklin. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Ralph in 2009, and son Larry in 2014.

Thursday, January 18th - Visitation/Viewing

4-8pm at Chapel at Resthaven/Carr-Tenney Mortuary & Memorial Gardens

4310 E. Southern Ave., Phoenix, AZ 85042

Friday, January 19th

10am - service at Arizona Community Church

9325 S. Rural Rd., Tempe, AZ 85284

noon - Graveside Service

Resthaven/Carr-Tenney Mortuary & Memorial Gardens

4310 E. Southern Ave., Phoenix, AZ 85042

1pm - 2:30pm - Reception following graveside service

Arizona Community Church

Room G2