Daughter of Roy James ALDRIDGE and Gladys TAYLOR. Married Howard A. BYRD.

Blanch Helen Aldridge Byrd, age 88, of 140 R.J. Aldridge Road, Banner Elk, died August 13, 2014, at Watauga Medical Center. She was born March 6, 1926 in the Foscoe Community. She was homemaker and a member of Watauga Baptist Church.

She is survived by her husband of 68 years, Howard A. Byrd; two daughters, Janet McLean and husband Bruce of the Grandfather Community, and Vanessa Church of Wilkesboro; one son, Kim Byrd and wife Linda of Boone; six grandsons, Tracy McLean, Scott McLean, and Travis McLean and wife Angela, all of the Grandfather Community, Curtis Church of North Wilkesboro, Toby Church of Wilkesboro, and Clint Byrd and girlfriend Lauren Fontaine of Vilas; one granddaughter, Morgan Dugger and fiancé Paul Trivette of Mountain City, Tennessee; one step-grandson, Marshall Hopper and wife Tiffany of Zionville; four great-grandsons, Chase McLean of Raleigh, Holden McLean and Austin McLean, both of the Grandfather Community, and William Rhett Church of Mooresville; one step great-grandson, Cameron Fletcher of Zionville; one great-granddaughter, Emma Dugger of Mountain City; one step great-granddaughter, Mollie Grace Hopper; one great great-grandson, Peyton Million of Boone; one brother, Wade Aldridge and wife Ann of Morganton; four sisters, Verlene Roark of Boone, Bernice Byrd of the Grandfather Community, Mary Wilcox of Vilas, and Jean Gragg and husband Bobby of Lenoir, and one sister-in-law, Virginia Aldridge of the Grandfather Community. She is also survived by a number of nieces and nephews.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by one son-in-law, William "Bill" Church; one great-granddaughter, Kelsie McLean Million; six brothers, Stewart, Lon, Marl, Clell, Marsh, and Jim Aldridge, and two sisters, Carmalee Ellis and Princess Aldridge.

Funeral services were held at Watauga Baptist Church, officiated by Reverend R. D. Watson and Pastor Ken Caswell. Burial in the Watauga Baptist Church Cemetery.