The Record Newspapers - Hometown News For Orange County, Texas

Paul Joseph Blanda, 79, was born in Orange. Paul was the second of two sons born to Joseph and Lillian Blanda. He passed from this life Dec. 29, in the company of his wife, Lorie.

He graduated from St. Mary High School in 1954. He then attended and graduated from Lamar University in 1958 with a BS degree in Geology. Following this, he completed courses of study in Polymer Chemistry at the University of Houston and graduated in 1976 from the Kellogg Executive School of Business Management at Northwestern University in Chicago, Il.

Paul spent his career in the Petrochemical industry. During his career he worked for Spencer Chemical Company, Gulf Oil Chemical, Sinclair Koppers (Arco Chemical Company), Northern Petrochemical, Internorth and Westlake. He retired from Westlake in 1999 as Vice President of Operations.

Paul met his wife 41 years ago when he moved to the Chicago area and swept her off her feet. They enjoyed many happy years together and took a number of cruise trips around the world with their children.

Paul enjoyed learning about history, government, and the sciences. He liked to spend time with his family and enjoyed watching sports such as football, baseball and tennis. He also had a passion for genealogy and loved to travel around the world to learn more about his Sicilian ancestry. Paul will be remembered for his one-of-a-kind sense of humor and his ability to befriend anyone instantly.

Paul was preceded in death by his mother and father, brother Bernard and by his eldest daughter Laura Ann Blanda Takata.

He is survived by his wife, Lorie Blanda; son Paul J. Blanda Jr., Laura’s children Gregory Takata and his daughter Drew and Sean Takata and his son Trey. He is also survived by his daughter Mary Lynn Mochel and her children Kali and Alexander and his daughters Jennifer Lynn Newheiser and Rebecca Ann Berthold.

If you would like to make a donation on Paul’s behalf, please make a donation to Prince of Peace Catholic Church Mercy Ministries or the Lakewood Forest Club, in Houston.