of Yellville, AR

May 29, 1933 - November 14, 2020

Lt. Col (Ret.) Lloyd Carl "Sonny" Blasdel, age 87, of Yellville, Arkansas passed away Saturday November 14, 2020 in Gassville, Arkansas.

Lloyd was born May 29, 1933 in Peel, Arkansas to the late Elmer Earl and Dorothy (Warren) Blasdel. He married Alvena Koester July 6, 1954 in Yellville, Arkansas.

Lloyd developed an early desire to fly. He continued to have this interest and immediately after enlisting in the US Air Force in 1952 applied for and was accepted in the Aviation Cadet Program and worked at a Primary Flight Training Base several months while awaiting a class opening.

His first solo flight was at Columbus AFB, Mississippi, on April 2, 1953 in a Piper PA-18 with a WWII Fighter Pilot as Instructor. He went on to train in the T-6G, T-28's, and B-25's at Lubbock, AFB, Texas and was awarded US Air Force pilot wings in March 1954 at 20 years of age. He gained experience while based at Athens, Greece flying C47's and C54's.

On return to the US he was assigned to the Air Force Academy as an instructor pilot in T-29's. His assignment to Mitchell AFB, New York was transporting civilian and army dignitaries in C-47's, C-54's, and C-131's. At Dyess AFB, Texas he flew C-130A's, C130E's and C130D's. In April 1964 he started flying C123's in Vietnam after a short assignment in Bangkok, Thailand. He worked in the 315th Air Commando Group Command Post in Saigon. During this period he flew 117 combat support hours and 30 combat mission hours.

On return to the United States he was assigned to Headquarters Ninth Air Force, Office of the Inspector General at Shaw AFB, South Carolina. From Shaw he received an assignment to Charleston AFB, South Carolina flying C-141's worldwide but mostly into South Vietnam transporting supplies, personnel, air evacuating injured patients, and deceased military. Next he proceeded to Rhine Main AFB, Germany where he worked in the Military Airlift Command Post.

After retirement from the US Air Force in 1972 he became current in a PA-28 in 1974. He started flying full time in civilian aircraft based at Flippin, Arkansas.

During his more than fifty years of flying, Lloyd has enjoyed many flying missions such as transporting the US Air Force Thunderbird support team and launch equipment to each air show on a European tour including Libya, the Paris Air Show, the Azores, and several other countries. Another was piloting part of the Command element from the United States to Germany in Operation Big Lift during a joint exercise involving airlifting thousands of military personnel and their equipment. He received letters of commendation for these and others. During these more than fifty years he has accumulated more than 12,000 hours of accident and violation free flying.

Lloyd's community involvement in Marion County included serving as hospital administrator at Marion County Hospital, as Marion County Commissioner, a member of Marion County Cattlemen's Association, and as Marion County Farm Bureau President.

Mr. Blasdel is survived by his sons: Erick Blasdel of Flippin, Arkansas; William Earl Blasdel (Becky) of Yellville, Arkansas; his daughters: Terry Karnes (Mike) of Bella Vista, Arkansas; Carla Campbell (John) of Mountain Home, Arkansas; his brothers Larry Blasdel Sr. (Lea) of Flippin, Arkansas; Earl Blasdel Jr. (Janice) of Mountain Home, Arkansas; and his sisters; Daphnal Frazier, Earlena Campbell (Coy) of Alabama; twelve grandchildren, and twelve great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Alvena Ann "Vennie" Blasdel in 2018, sisters Annette Blasdel and Anna Lea Davenport.

Arrangements are by Roller-Burns Funeral Home in Yellville

Because of our concern for our community and the families we serve, we at Roller-Burns Funeral Home are encouraging families to practice social distancing at graveside and outdoor services in accordance with Covid19 protocol and guidelines.

Obituary Provided By:
Roller-Burns Funeral Home
725 North Panther Ave.
Yellville, AR  72687
www.rollerfuneralhomes.com