Louis Twyman "Bit" Blanford, Jr., age 75 of Saint Francis, passed away Monday, December 13, 2021 at Ephraim McDowell Regional Medical Center.  He was born February 20, 1946 in Holy Cross.  He was a retired employee of General Electric in Louisville with 36 years of service.  He served his country with the Bardstown National Guard Armory, C Battery, 2 ^nd Battalion, 138 ^th Field Artillery.  He fought in Vietnam and was awarded the Purple Heart.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Louis Twyman and Martha Louise Cecil Blanford; one sister, Mary Marlene Blanford; two brothers, Joseph Edward "Eddie" and James Walter "Jimmy" Blanford.

Survivors include five children, Dean Blanford (Cindy) of Saint Francis, Jackie Carrico (Mark) of Loretto, Michael Blanford (Megan) of Raywick, Cece Gardiner (Scott) of Lebanon and Amanda Wilber (Dylan) of Versailles; 15 grandchildren, Kenneth Swaim, Kenny West, Brittany Blanford, John Mark Carrico, Samantha Bell, Danielle Carrico, Jaxon Wheatley, Brian Blanford, Alyssa Blanford, Gavyn Wilbur, Elin Gardiner, Kyndra Blanford, Graham Wilbur, Evie Wilbur and Mason Blanford; nine great-grandchildren; four sisters, Wanda Louise Sutton (David) and Margaret Ann Neel (Chris), all of Bardstown, Janet Marie Boone (Fred) of New Haven and Mary Darlene Spalding (Henry) of Springfield; three brothers, Robert Leonard Blanford (Janice), Michael Wayne Blanford (Lisa) and David Scott Blanford all of Holy Cross; one sister-in-law, Ann Charlotte Blanford of Holy Cross.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10 am Thursday, December 16, 2021 at Saint Francis of Assisi Catholic Church, 6785 Highway 52, Loretto.  Rev. Richard Goodin will officiate.  Burial will follow in the church cemetery where military rites will be conducted by the Marion County Veterans Honor Guard.

Visitation is 3-8 pm Wednesday at Mattingly Funeral Home, 195 Holy Cross Road, Loretto, with a prayer service at 7 pm by Deacon W. Donald Coulter.

Pallbearers are Josh Blanford, Salem Bell, Jaxon Wheatley, John Mark Carrico and Brian Blanford.