George Henry Blinn Jr.
October 18, 1927 - October 5, 2023
George Henry Blinn Jr., 95, born October 18, 1927 in Bangor, Maine, passed away peacefully with family
present on Thursday, October 5, 2023 in Sun Lakes, Arizona.
He was predeceased by 5 brothers: Otis, William, Felix, Charles, John and a sister Mary Blinn Sidelinker,
his parents, George and Estelle Melanson Blinn, and his beloved first wife of 45 years, Rose Virginia
McNally Blinn.
He is survived by his beloved second wife of 25 years, Marlys Kern Belch Blinn; four children from his
first marriage: Kathryn Louise Blinn Porrovecchio, Stephen Lawrence (Vickie) Blinn, Candace Marie
Smith (Steven) Vermeulen, and Tamara LeAnn Blinn Firkins Flecksteiner, and “adopted the Sapp family”
when they lost their parents in a plane crash. two stepdaughters: Nancy Belch (Don) Gehrman and
Kristine Carey; five grandchildren: Brandy Rose (Bryan) Taylor, Rachel Marie (Paul) Bulens, Joshua
Sims, James Carey, and Erin Garcia; seven great grandchildren: Brandyn and Bryanna Taylor, Iris Jade
and Lucien Paul Bulens; Natalie, Sarah, and Sabra Garcia; numerous nieces, and nephews and sponsored
an exchange student Kim McAllum, Sidney, Australia.
George graduated from John Bapst Catholic High School, Bangor Maine, entered the US Naval Air
Station in Bangor at 17 and served 3 years which included multiple radioman training and duty aboard
ships. He was honorably discharged with the rank of RM3 (Radioman 3rdclass). After his discharge he
took additional courses in electronic engineering at DeForest's Training Inc., Chicago, Illinois. Upon
return to Maine he married Rose and they moved to California where he found a job with Hewlett-
Packard, Palo Alto, California as employee #129. Later he was offered a transfer position to one of the
two new Colorado locations, he decided on Colorado Springs over the Loveland site and remained there
retiring after 39 years with HP. Shortly after retirement he suffered a heart attack, which led to joining a
special group at the hospital called the Open Heart Club. It was at one of these club meetings that Rose
suddenly passed away from a massive brain aneurysm November 22, 1996. He continued to attend these
gatherings to give and receive support when he met Marlys Belch, also a member. They became smitten
with each other and were married June 20, 1998.
George had many talents and interests all of which included showing us how to become better people with
respect, honest and a competitive spirit. Our constant goal was to beat him at some game or sport. He
and both of his wives enjoyed playing bridge in many settings. He initiated and directed Competitive
Cribbage Clubs (Grass Roots Cribbage, Colorado Rockies Cribbage Association) and small clubs
everywhere he lived. He liked to play pool. Enjoyed making furniture or items with wood. While at HP he
took photos for employee events and developed his photographic work in his home made darkroom. He
was physically active into his mid 70's playing Racket Ball with people half his age at the local sports
club. He would say that he joined racket ball for his health, he later had to give it up-for his health- due to injuries received from "the younger folk not being kind the the old man.
George and Marlys have lived in the Robson Reserve (formerly Renaissance) for 9 years and have made
many friends here. A Memorial Social Celebration will be held at the Robson building 9504 on Thursday
October 12 from 3:00-5:00pm. The Memorial Mass or Communion service dates are TBD
