James Walter "Jimmy" Blanford, age 73, passed away Saturday, November 4, 2017 at Norton Hospital in Louisville with his family by his side.

A lifelong resident of Holy Cross, he was a retired maintenance man of General Electric, a member of Holy Cross Church and hardworking farmer until the end. He was born on October 26, 1944 to the late Martha Louise Cecil Blanford and Twyman Blanford. He was preceded in death by his parents, a sister, Mary Marlene Blanford and brother, Joseph Edward Blanford.

Survivors include his loving wife of 50 plus years, Ann Charlotte Blanford; one daughter, Laura Blanford-Simpson (Wayne); two sons, John Joshua Blanford and James "Jamie" Walter Blanford, Jr. (Gina) all of Holy Cross; two grandchildren, James Walter Blanford III and Miranda Kathleen Blanford; four sisters, Wanda Louise Sutton (David), Margaret Ann Neel (Chris), both of Bardstown, Janet Marie Boone (Fred) of New Haven and Mary Darlene Spalding (Henry) of Springfield; four brothers, Louis Twyman "Bit" Blanford, Jr. of Saint Francis, Robert Leonard Blanford (Janice), Michael Wayne Blanford (Lisa) and David Scott Blanford all of Holy Cross.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 AM Thursday, November 9, 2017 at Holy Cross Catholic Church, 59 New Haven Road, Loretto. Rev. Jason Harris will preside. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.

Visitation is 2-8 PM Wednesday at Mattingly Funeral Home, 195 Holy Cross Road, Loretto with a prayer service at 7 PM by Rev. Deacon Joseph R. Dant.