Robert Wynne Blanton

January 24, 1936 – May 27, 2026

Robert (Bob) Wynne Blanton, 90, passed away peacefully on May 27, 2026, in Knoxville, TN. Born in Sarasota, FL, to Robert L. and Thelma Blanton, Bob was a lifelong resident of Sarasota. His parents settled in Sarasota in the 1930s from Tellico Plains, TN. As a child during WWII, his family lived briefly in Oak Ridge, TN, while his father worked at the Y-12 Plant where they produced fuel for the A-Bomb. Following the war, they returned to Sarasota. He graduated from Sarasota High School in 1954 where Bobby was a member of the Mighty Sailor Marching Band, playing the trumpet. His favorite high school memory was eating at Smack’s Restaurant on Osprey Street on Friday nights after football games. Bob later helped organize numerous SHS Class of 54 reunions for many years. Bob attended Florida State University and joined the FSU Marching Chiefs. A highlight of his FSU tenure was a trip with the band to El Paso, TX, where the band performed in the 1955 Sun Bowl. He was a member of the Air Force ROTC at FSU and later served in the Florida Army National Guard in the local Sarasota unit, attaining the rank of Staff Sgt.

Bob met his future wife, Shirley Rinker, on a blind date and they married in 1960 at First Christian Church. Bob & Shirley had two children, Jeff and Jennie. Bob worked as a plumber for the family business, Blanton Brothers Plumbing, and later as a bank teller at Sarasota Federal Bank. Bob worked 25 years as a Nationwide Insurance agent, dutifully serving his many grateful customers while Shirley served as an elementary school teacher for 32 years. Bob took great pride that after 6 decades of driving he never had an accident or moving violation.

Bob & Shirley were charter and long-term members of Beneva Christian Church and were instrumental in the forming of the church in 1970, the construction of the church buildings, and the hiring of the first minister. Bob served as an elder and Chairman of the board and helped create the Bifocal Bunch senior club. Bob & Shirley sang in the choir every Sunday for decades. They later attended St. John’s United Methodist and were active members of the choir.

After retiring in 1992, Shirley and Bob spent their summers in the Blue Ridge Mountains in West Jefferson, NC, where they were faithful members of Jefferson United Methodist Church. They enjoyed the mountains and the cool weather as well as day trips with the church’s Senior Group and the numerous mountain music festivals in the area. In 2004, they relocated their summer home to Franklin, NC, and were members of First United Methodist Church.

Bob was a talented singer and performed at weddings, funerals, and festivals. He later taught himself to play the guitar and loved to sing and play a variety of music, especially mountain music. He enjoyed watching auto racing, FSU Football, and anything Shirley wanted to watch. Friends and family loved his many jokes and stories.

After Shirley passed in 2020, Bob lived 2 years in Prescott, AZ, near his son Jeff, and finally in Knoxville, TN, near his daughter Jennie. He will be dearly missed by all who were fortunate to know him.

Bob is survived by his beloved children, Jeff Blanton (Anneliesse) of Prescott, AZ and Jennie Peluso (Bart) of Knoxville, TN, and four grandchildren; Diego, Bobby, Bart (Adrianne) and Suzie.

A Celebration of Life Ceremony will be held at St John’s United Methodist on Proctor Road in Sarasota at a future date. Bob will be buried next to Shirley at his family burial plot at Sarasota Memorial Park.

Donations in his memory can be sent to Gentiva Hospice of Knoxville, TN.