Navy Capt. Robert L. Blanding, 52, who directed the surface gun weapons system division of the Naval Sea Systems Command in Washington from 1978 until his retirement this month for health reasons, died of respiratory failure Sunday at the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda.
From 1971 to 1974, Capt. Blanding directed the ship installation, planning and trials division of the Naval Ordnance Systems Command in Washington. He then served as head of a surface warfare division in the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations before heading the surface gun weapons system division.
In the mid-1950s, he commanded a minesweeper and later served as commanding officer of a destroyer.
Capt. Blanding, who lived in Alexandria, was born in Babson Park, Fla. He graduated from the Naval Academy at Annapolis in 1952 and did post-graduate work in ordnance engineering.
Survivors include his wife, Marilyn A., and a son, Walter H., both of Alexandria, and two other sons, Army 2nd Lt. William A., of Ansach, West Germany, and Navy Midshipman Wayne R., of the Naval Academy at Annapolis.
The family suggests that expressions of sympathy be in the form of contributions to the American Cancer Society.
Navy Capt. Robert L. Blanding, 52, who directed the surface gun weapons system division of the Naval Sea Systems Command in Washington from 1978 until his retirement this month for health reasons, died of respiratory failure Sunday at the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda.
From 1971 to 1974, Capt. Blanding directed the ship installation, planning and trials division of the Naval Ordnance Systems Command in Washington. He then served as head of a surface warfare division in the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations before heading the surface gun weapons system division.
In the mid-1950s, he commanded a minesweeper and later served as commanding officer of a destroyer.
Capt. Blanding, who lived in Alexandria, was born in Babson Park, Fla. He graduated from the Naval Academy at Annapolis in 1952 and did post-graduate work in ordnance engineering.
Survivors include his wife, Marilyn A., and a son, Walter H., both of Alexandria, and two other sons, Army 2nd Lt. William A., of Ansach, West Germany, and Navy Midshipman Wayne R., of the Naval Academy at Annapolis.
The family suggests that expressions of sympathy be in the form of contributions to the American Cancer Society.
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