Vincent Frank DeBlaze Sr passed away in the early hours of Tuesday May 15, 2018. Vince was born on May 7, 1932 and lived 86 years.

He was a devoted family man that fought a 4 year battle against COPD and finally succumbed to the disease. Vince was the oldest son of the late Frank and Dorothy (Kutas) DeBlaze of St. Louis, Missouri. He was preceded in death by his sister Mary Ann (Daues), his brother Thomas DeBlaze, and his daughters Mary Carol DeBlaze and Janet Marie Kilker (Thomas Kilker).

After high school graduation from Soldan High School, Vince was employed by RCA Television as a television repair man. He then enlisted into the Army to serve our country in the Korean War. He was in the Signal Corp and served from November of 1952 until November of 1954. He was honorably discharged and continued his employment at RCA Television in 1955. After leaving the TV business he worked at Anheuser Busch and retired from the brewery after 29 years. He then started a new career as a school bus driver for the Francis Howell school district and drove his bus for 20 years before officially retiring in 2014. In his younger years, he enjoyed hunting and going on family vacations.

In 1955 he met the Love of his life (Mary Janet Davidson). On August 18, 1956 Jan and Vince were happily married. They remained happily married over the past 62 + years. Vince DeBlaze is survived by his wife (Mary Janet), his 3 sons Vincent Frank DeBlaze Jr (Lucia), Jeffrey Edward DeBlaze, Michael Anthony DeBlaze, and his daughter Suzanne Lee Elsenrath (Terry Elsenrath). He was the proud grandfather of Cory Elsenrath, Cody Elsenrath (Nicole), Matthew Elsenrath, Erik Elsenrath, and Alexander DeBlaze. He was an uncle to many nieces, nephews, cousins, and a friend to many.

Memorial Service will be held May 25, 2018 at 11:00 am at Jefferson Barracks Memorial Cemetery in South St. Louis County. A Celebration of Life Party will be held at 2:00 pm at the Chapter One Condominium Clubhouse located at 500 Hemingway Lane, Weldon Springs, MO 63304