Florida Blanton

OBITUARY On June 18, 1935 in Arcola Mississippi, Florida Beatrice Kroninger was born to Beverly and Beatrice Kroninger; she was the 15th of 17 children that were born to this union. She was preceded in death by all her siblings, except her younger sister Clara Scott-Whiskey and younger brother Charles Kroninger. The Kroninger family moved to Birmingham, Alabama while Florida was very young; this where she received her formal education. Florida left Alabama in the late 1950's with her young daughter Abyssinia and moved to Chicago, where she met her first husband James Ware. To this union six children were born Kenneth, Tyrone, Bruno (deceased) Darnell, Gloria and Annette. James and Florida lived in Chicago and Minnesota, before finally settling down in Colorado, where they raised their family. In 1975 she met Nathaniel Blanton Sr and to this union, Nathaniel Blanton Jr. was born. While living in Colorado, Florida worked eighteen years at Gates Rubber Company. In 1978, Florida moved to Buffalo, New York where she lived until she returned to Colorado in 1998. While in Buffalo, she worked as a CNA and attended the University of Buffalo studying child care. She also formed a lifelong friendship with Felix and Queen Ester Mcghee, and became the god mother to their two boys Felix Jr and Michael. When she returned to Denver she worked as an aide to Mayor Wellington Webb for eight years and an aide to Mayor John Hickenlooper for two years, before she finally retired in 2005. After she retired she enjoyed spending time with her children and grandchildren, going to bingo and watching western movies. She loved watching games shows like Price is Right, Jeopardy, Wheel of Fortune, and her favorite, Family Feud with Steve Harvey. She was a lifelong football fan, her two favorite teams being the Buffalo Bills and the Denver Broncos. She also liked attending community and civic events with her best friend Irene Purvis. They attended the Ebony Fashion Show every year for twenty years. They always went to lunch once a month and talked daily. Florida had another special person in her life, Celia Oliver. They were connected by marriage, but friends by choice. They spent many days talking and enjoying each other's company. Frequently on Saturdays they would get together and visit with each other. Florida was a good southern cook, with her specialty being German Chocolate cake. When she made the cake, her son Tyrone and grandson Anthony would argue over who would get the first piece. She enjoyed teaching her daughter Annette and granddaughter Aleahya how to cook. She often bragged that if it was not for her, Annette would not know how to cook. She also enjoyed going to the casinos with her daughter Gloria and Gloria's husband Ron. She played the lottery often, including scratch off tickets. Every Saturday her stepson Henry would come and play her lotto numbers and power ball tickets. Florida had a strong relationship with the Lord; she accepted Christ at an early age. She was a member of Union Baptist Church, prior to moving to Buffalo. When she lived in Buffalo she was a faithful and active member of Antioch Baptist Church. After her return to Denver, she became a member of King Baptist Church. Florida shared a special relationship with all her children; each one was unique and different. She was the reason her children remain close and united. Toward the end of her life, Florida suffered from end stage renal failure which required her to be on dialysis three times per week. Her son Tyrone was her faithful driver to and from dialysis, and when her other children offered to take her, she refused saying that it was his job and that no one else could do it like him. During her sickness Florida remained the same loving mother, grandmother, and great grandmother that she always was. Florida Ware Blanton, beloved wife, mother, sister, grandmother, great grandmother and faithful friend, departed this life on May 25, 2017, surrounded by her loving family. Her legacy and loving memories live on through her children Aby (Kenneth) Vanterpool, Kenneth (Vickie) Ware, Tyrone (Lynette) Ware, Darnell (Angela) Ware, Gloria (Ronald) Turner, Annette Ware, Nathaniel Blanton, and Henry Ware, her sister Clara Scott-Whiskey, brother Charles Kroninger, grandson Anthony Ware, granddaughter Aleahya Ware, a host of grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces and nephew, two special God children Felix and Michael McGhee, and lifelong friend Irene Purvis.

Funeral Home: Pipkin Braswell Funerals and Cremation - 2050 Uinta Street, Denver, Colorado
Visitation: 6/8/2017 at 4:00 PM - Pipkin Braswell Chapel of Peace - 6601 East Colfax Avenue, Denver, CO
Service: 6/9/2017 at 2:00 PM - Pipkin Braswell Chapel of Peace - 3370 Ivy Street, Denver, CO
Cemetery: Private Cremation - 6601 E. Colfax Ave., Denver, CO
Family Gathering: 6/9/2017 - Pipkin Braswell Reception Center - 2428 Ogden Street, Denver, CO