son of William Eugene Plemmons and grandson of William Henry Plemons, born 8 Jan 1966, died 15 Oct 1995. Jerry was out hunting in Osceola County, Florida. just south of Orlando. It had rained really bad and they tried to cross a body of water. They didn't realize the water authority had opened up the flood gates and the water current took Jerry under. He drowned. Jerry and his father, William E. were both buried in South Florida originally, but when William's wife moved back to Georgia, she had the remains of William and Jerry moved to Fairveiw Memorial Gardens in Stockbridge, Georgia.

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(December 15, 2000)

Going through their dad's papers recently, the children of Frank Stuart Blanton found a certificate of appreciation from the U. S. Department of War, dated August 1945. The certificate, signed by the Secretary of War, thanked Mr. Blanton for his work on the development of the atomic bomb and "thereby contributing to the successful conclusion of World War II."

Mr. Blanton, of Winter Haven, Florida, died Friday December 15, at his home. He was 77. Blanton was born June 5, 1923, in Sweetwater, Tennessee. He was the son of Hugh Blanton and Julia Plemons Blanton, and was a 1943 graduate of Sweetwater High School. He married the former Millie A. Whitley, of Concord, N.C., who was also employed at Tennessee Eastman in Oak Ridge. He was preceded in death by a sister, Matilee Lonas of Sweetwater.

"It was all secret," said his daughter, Kaye Blanton McConnell of Lakeland, Florida. "At the time, they weren't telling them what they were creating."

A young man when World War II broke out, Blanton was disappointed that he couldn't join the armed services because of a crippled leg, so he was happy to take a job working on a project for the War Department in Oak Ridge.

"He loved to tell stories about all of the secrecy," McConnell said.

After the war, he opened a restaurant in Sweetwater (B&N Grill). He moved to Winter Haven from Cleveland in 1954 and worked at Winter Haven Hospital as a radiology and lab technologist. Later, he founded and operated the School Insurance Agency until his retirement in 1993. He was active in the Winter Haven School Booster Club and helped a number of young athletes secure college scholarships and grants-in-aid.

"One of my uncles was a coach in Tennessee," McConnell said. "Dad was sort of a recruiter for Austin-Peay and some other schools. College football was one of his favorite things - especially the University of Tennessee. He was always upset with me for going to the University of Florida instead of UT."

He was a 32^nd degree Mason in Masonic Lodge #186 in Winter Haven and Lodge #292 in Sweetwater, and he was a 50-year member. He was also a Shriner, affiliated with the Egypt Temple of Scottish Rite in Tampa. He was an active volunteer in Boy Scouts. He was a past deacon at Beymer Memorial Methodist Church.

In addition to his daughter, he is survived by his son, Stuart Blanton of Winterhaven; four grandchildren, and one great-grandchild.

Graveside services were held at 10 a.m., Saturday, June 2, at West View Cemetery with the Rev. Julian F. Walton of the First United Methodist Church officiating. The family received friends and guests at the Methodist Church Fellowship Hall from 2 - 4 P.M. on June 2.

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