Blanche Vanhoy Bovender

Blanche Vanhoy Bovender, aged 103, passed away on July 24, 2024, in Southport, North Carolina. Born in Yadkin County, North Carolina, on October 30, 1920, she led a life marked by devotion, community service, and significant professional achievements.

Blanche was a devout member of the Leland Baptist Church in Leland, NC, where she practiced her faith fervently, partaking in daily Bible readings and regular church attendances. Her commitment to her faith was paralleled by her dedication to her community, as evidenced by her volunteer work with the Upper Yadkin Valley Habitat for Humanity ReStore in Elkin, NC, and Meals on Wheels in Brunswick County, NC.

Professionally, Blanche built a remarkable career in retail sales. Starting as a sales associate at the GC Murphy Company in Maryland, she advanced to a clothing buyer and later became the company’s first female assistant manager, demonstrating her prowess and breaking barriers in her field.

Blanche graduated from Boonville High School in Boonville, North Carolina. Her personal life was enriched by her love for country music and the joy she found in maintaining close connections with her friends and a large, loving family.

She is survived by her daughter, Deanna Antonio; son-in-law, James Antonio; grandson Joseph Antonio; grandsons Leonard, James, Todd, Dana, and Michael Bovender; nine great-grandchildren; several great-great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews. Blanche was preceded in death by her parents, Santford Clayton Vanhoy and Stella Brown Vanhoy; all nine of her siblings; her son, John Bovender; daughter, Dianna Bovender; and a grandson, John.

A Celebration of Life for Blanche will be 2:00 PM, October 25, 2024 at Boonville Baptist Church with Rev. Larry Thompson and Rev. Ralph Long presiding, honoring a life well-lived and deeply cherished.