Mildred D. Blanks

Mildred D. “Millie” Martin Blanks died on March 8, 2008 at the age of 84.  She was born in Lancaster on May 10, 1923, the youngest of four children, to Lillian May Krueger Martin and Harry Bomberger Martin of North Mary Street, Lancaster, PA. She was preceded in death by her husband, Robert L. Blanks, in 1993.

She graduated from McCaskey High School and worked at Hamilton Watch Factory briefly until she was old enough to enter nursing school at Lancaster General Hospital, Class of 1944.  Although a member of the WAV reserves, she was not called to active duty.   At the age of 21 she received her registered nurses’ degree and was recruited to work for the Veterans’ Administration Hospital in New York City during World War II.  There she met and married a co-worker, Robert L. Blanks, in 1947. 

The couple later moved to New Jersey and lived in Jersey City, East Orange and Belleville.  While raising two daughters and caring for her father, she continued nursing positions which included private medical practices, hospital and operating room nursing, a research clinic, medical insurance claims reviewer, and the Visiting Nurses of Essex County, NJ.

In 1978 she and her husband moved back to the Lancaster area and she worked for the Masonic Homes in Elizabethtown, PA.  After retirement, she lived in Eldersburg and Silver Spring, Maryland.

Millie had artistic talent and created beautiful crafts and clothing. She loved cats and had many different kinds of pets over the years.  She also loved history and in particular, her Pennsylvania Dutch heritage.  She avidly researched her genealogy and was a volunteer for a historical society in Lancaster.

She is survived by two daughters, Dr. Janet Blanks-Peyser of Eldersburg, MD and Barbara Kostiuk of Stanhope, NJ; a son-in-law, Professor Paul S. Peyser; a sister-in-law, Catherine Martin, and two nephews, David and Raymond Martin and their wives, Annette and Susan, and several other great  nieces and nephews; a brother Raymond Martin preceded her in death.

Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend the funeral services for Millie at the Charles F. Snyder Funeral Home, 414 E. King St. Lancaster, PA 17602 on Thursday March 13, 2008 at 2pm with Major B. Smith as Officiant. The family will greet friends from 1pm until time of service. Interment will take place at Greenwood Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The Humane Society of the United States, 2100 L St. NW Washington D.C., 20037 or the Salvation Army, 131 South Queen St. PO Box 868 Lancaster, PA 17603. Arrangements are under the care of Charles F. Snyder Funeral Home, 717-393-9661.