Herb Blish
Goats' milk must be pretty good stuff. Weighing in at a hefty 5 pounds 10 oz, Herbert Laurence Blish was born on March 12, 1926, the second of 3 sons of Milford and Muriel Price Blish on Highmount. The doctor reportedly told Muriel, "Ye'll never raise him." Indeed he lost a little weight but started to thrive when fed goats' milk. (Shows what doctors know.)
His childhood was spent on Highmount where his parents were caretakers/farmers on the Gunnison/Butler estate.. Later the family moved to Clovesville. Herb graduated from Fleischmanns High and served in the Navy in WW2 as Seaman Second Class. His role he most enjoyed was in meteorology at the Virginia base. He had been reassigned to go to the Pacific on what was commonly assumed to be a suicide mission, but the atomic bomb ended the war before he was deployed overseas. Thus Harry S Truman probably saved Herb's life, but no one ever heard him express thanks to that Democratic office holder.
The family home, a pre-fab bought from Sears Roebuck, arrived at the Fleischmanns train depot and was erected on a parcel bought from the Garrison farm (now the Ed Bennett property). Herb maintained the home and garden and added a bathroom and a bedroom as the family grew.
A self-described "painter and paperhanger", Herb was well recognized in the community for his high standards and excellent workmanship. For many years the family operated a fresh fish market in town where the kids learned the basics of customer service, scaling fish, and making change. Winters he worked as a ski mechanic on Belleayre.
Among his more notable jobs, he shingled the steeple of the Fleischmanns church. He was even prouder of placing the cross on top of the Margaretville Roman Catholic Church, a job professional outfits from as far away as Albany had declined. He was prouder yet of the parquet floor he painstakingly installed in one room of the family home from irregularly sized pieces of wood.
Herb could, and did, fix anything. He was very gifted with intuition bolstered by experience for bending his mind and hands to any interesting task. In his later years, he repaired chairs and re-caned seats. Many homes have had a family heirloom brought back to life through his efforts.
Brought up during the Depression years, both he and Eleanor whom he married in 1954, embodied the value of thrift. The mantra was always "work hard and save your money." The family did forgo a lot of luxuries in the interest of ensuring financial security and making sure the kids had every possible opportunity. Tho there were some hotly contested pinochle games in the family home with cherished family and friends. Herb and Eleanor were pillars of the Fleischmanns UMC during their child-rearing years.
The last Blish of his generation, he was pre-deceased by his wife of 67 years, Eleanor Louise Moseman. He is survived by 3 children, 2 grandchildren and his beloved corgi dog Baby Doll.
If "In my Father's house, there are many rooms", they will keep Herb busy forever.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a gift to Halcott UMC, Delaware Opportunities Senior Meals, or Helios Hospice.
Services will be at graveside in the Halcott cemetery at 2 pm Tuesday, June 20th, followed by a celebration at the Halcott Grange.