Wayne Ellis Blethen

Wayne Ellis Blethen was born in Niles, Michigan, on December 7, 1937, as the eldest child of Carroll Francis and Emily Mae Blethen (both deceased). He grew up in this traditional family, along with his younger sister, Ann Marie Hunt (who predeceased him in 2017), and his younger brother, Stephen Ross Blethen. His 4th birthday fell on the day of the infamous Pearl Harbor tragedy in 1941, which remained indelibly impressed in his mind for the rest of his life. In 1946 his father's job with the Kawneer Company resulted in the family moving to Lexington, Kentucky. During his senior year of high school while he was hanging around at his girlfriend's band practice after school, the band director coerced him into carrying a tuba and marching with the band (even though he played no instrument). He soon taught himself to actually play the tuba. Wayne graduated as a student with lackluster grades (having been told at one time by his high school math teacher that he should never consider a career in anything involving math) from Lafayette High School at seventeen years of age.

Following high school graduation, he attended the University of Kentucky. During his years at UK, he continued his newly-discovered love for band as a member of the Elite Marching 100. He also became a regular participant in pick-up basketball games on the weekends where he sometimes found himself playing with members of the well-known Kentucky Wildcat basketball squad. While there, he also participated in ROTC training and when he graduated magna cum laude with a bachelor of Business in Accounting as a commissioned officer in the United States Navy, he proved the lack of validity in the prediction of his high school math teacher. After graduating second in his class from a select Naval Officer Training program following his college graduation, he earned the opportunity to pick the location (preceded only by the person who finished first) where he would be stationed. Wayne chose Yokohama, Japan. He was for many years the officer in charge of the operation of the computer technology systems at the Army-Air Force Exchange Service (AAFES) in Yokohama. Interestingly he managed to be in the Navy without ever having to spend significant time at sea. During his years in the Navy, he rose to the rank of 1st lieutenant. Upon retiring from the Service, he continued to serve as a civilian in the same capacity with AAFES in both Vietnam (during the height of the war) and later in Germany.

Along the way Wayne sat for and passed the very difficult test to become a certified public accountant (CPA) and thereafter he provided CPA services for numerous clients and taught classes as an adjunct professor for several years at Texas College.

In 1974 a highlight of his life was his adoption of his son, Terry Choon Blethen, to whom his three precious granddaughters were later born. His wife of 44 years, Ana Perez Blethen, preceded him in death in November 2022.

Wayne is survived by his son, Terry Blethen, daughter-in-law, Devon Blethen, and his beloved granddaughters, Hailey, Khiya and Mikayla, along with his brother, Stephen (Marilyn) Blethen and nieces, Stephanie Hooton and Heidi Lee, as well as niece, Jennifer Vanderwall (daughter of his deceased sister, Ann Hunt). Nephew, Billy Hunt (son of Ann Hunt), preceded him in death.

Wayne will be remembered as a vociferous fan of Kentucky Basketball and of the Dallas Cowboys (even after his move to Denver, Colorado, from the Dallas area during the last years of his life). He was his son, Terry's, greatest supporter during Terry's successful run as a high school wrestler in Giessen, Germany. Wayne loved his family and was significantly involved in the lives of his granddaughters. He will be greatly missed.