Obituary of Ernest Eugene Blondeau

In Loving Memory of Ernest Eugene (Gene) Blondeau, Jr., PhD (October 8, 1930 - July 11, 2018) Gene was born in Houston, Texas on October 8, 1930. He was the eldest son of Ernest Eugene Blondeau, Sr. and Maude Bryan Blondeau. He had to grow up quickly due to the death of his father, Ernest Sr., when he was only nine years old. He felt great responsibility for helping his mother raise his younger siblings: Wayne Blondeau (deceased), Pierre Blondeau, and Christine Blondeau. He was a strong-willed, extremely intelligent man who knew exactly what he wanted in life and how to get it. He was attracted to flying at an early age when he visited his Aunt Eleanor and Uncle Bill in Texas when he was 14 years old. His uncle gave him his first taste of what it felt like to fly when he worked at the local airfield for the summer. One of his jobs was to taxi airplanes to and from hangars for the pilots. While he was always attracted to logical pursuits, the real joy in his life became flying airplanes. In the midst of pursuing a bachelor's degree in Physics from the University of Arkansas, he joined the Air Force as the youngest recruit in the 38th Tactical Reconnaissance Fighter Squadron. He was able to complete his bachelor's degree before he began basic and reconnaissance fighter pilot training in the Air Force. His call sign was "Junior". It was started as a joke because JR was stenciled on all of his gear, and because he was so young. He flew the RF-84F Thunderflash and had many stories about his Air Force experiences in the mid 1950's. Gene looked forward to meeting up with his squadron for reunions all over the country for the rest of his life. He continued in the Air Force as a reserve pilot for over a decade after he left regular active duty. Gene picked up his intellectual pursuits again after his time in the Air Force. He earned a master's degree in Physics from the University of Wisconsin, and both a master's and PhD in Mathematics from Oklahoma State University. While pursuing these degrees he found the time to meet the love of his life, Lois Jane Kratsch, and created a family including William Hugh Blondeau, Vicki Lee Blondeau, James Bryan Blondeau, and Randall Warren Blondeau. He had a long career in technology including time spent at Conoco, Los Alamos National Laboratories, Texas Instruments, Honeywell, and GTE. He held two patents in data networking which enabled high speed data transmission over phone lines. In his personal life, he loved BBQ of every kind, VO & Ginger was his beverage of choice (especially while in the Air Force), he was known for his delicious grilled roasts, driving as if he were still a reconnaissance fighter pilot, his logical approach to problem solving, his deep knowledge of all things vitamin-related, his remarkable selection of blue shirts with room for pocket protectors and pencils, and his dry sense of humor. If there was an air show anywhere around, he would be sure to take the family. Vacations in the car to beautiful locations were a summer staple. The photos he took while in the Air Force and of the family later in life were truly fantastic. He must have been a very good reconnaissance photographer for our country. He and Lois settled in Tucson in the early 1990's and designed and built their dream home. He loved their beautiful, energy efficient home with a fantastic view of Bear Canyon. He particularly enjoyed watching the variety of desert wildlife, especially birds, that passed by their large windows daily. Of particular interest was a road runner who regularly tapped at the windows. Gene loved his family deeply, as we loved him and his independent spirit. He is survived by his wife Lois Blondeau; his son and daughter-in-law Bill and Shelley Blondeau; his son and daughter-in-law Jim Blondeau and Debi Burton, his son and daughter-in-law Randy and Donna Blondeau; his grandchildren Anna Thompson, Emma Quarnstrom, Sonja Blondeau-Heglin, Bryan Blondeau, Daniel Blondeau, Luc Blondeau and Merrick Blondeau; his great grandchildren Lilly Thompson and Logan Thompson; his brother Pierre Blondeau; his sister Christine Blondeau and his nieces Janet Blondeau, Sharon Blondeau, Annette Radvansky and Claire Blondeau. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the American Cancer Society or to the charity of your choice in Gene's name. Please leave remembrances, condolences, and photos at http://www.adairfuneralhomes.com/book-of-memories/3561754/Blondeau-Ernest/view-condolences.php