- Mrs. Blanca Noel Taft lost a courageous two year battle against cancer Friday '96 just 29 years and one day after her marriage to U.S. Rep. Robert Taft Jr.
At her bedside when death came at about 1:30 a.m. their Indian Hill home were the congressman, their older daughter, Mrs. Winfield (Sarah) Jones, New York City, and Mrs. Taft's mother, Mrs. John Neegard, New York City. Mrs. Taft, 51, underwent surgery for amputation of her right arm above the elbow, May 21, 1966 at Holmes Hospital. Cancer had been detected a short time earlier in tissue taken from a cyst that developed on her wrist. Friends said at the time that she was cheerful and determined to resume a normal life.
In the months that followed Mrs. Taft went back to many of her former pursuits, including golfing, driving and gardening that had been one of her lifelong loves. She insisted on doing much of the cooking and other housewifely chores at their unpretentious home, 4300 Drake Road, Indian Hill.
Early this year she suffered a recurrence of the cancer, according to Ron Aaron, press secretary to Mr. Taft. Even though her condition deteriorated steadily, Mrs. Taft insisted that her husband spend as much time as possible at his work in Congress. He had been returning here each weekend, and, finally, came home to Cincinnati at noon Thursday.
Their three other children are Robert A. Taft II, 26, who is with the Agency for International Development in Saigon, Deborah Taft, 21, who is attending summer classes at the University of Pennsylvania, and Jonathan D. Taft, 14, away at summer camp. Mrs. Jones is 25.
Mrs. Taft had remarked to friends that she and her husband had known each other since they were three years old. Although from different cities, they became acquainted when their families maintained summer residences at Murray Bay.
Mr. Taft is the son of the late U.S. Senator and Mrs. Robert Taft of Cincinnati. Mrs. Taft's father, Louis Noel of New York City, died several years ago. Her mother has since remarried.
Thursday was the Taft's 29th wedding anniversary. They were married June 27, 1939 in New York. He entered law school the following autumn at Harvard University in Cambridge, MA. Mrs. Taft was educated at the Brearley and Ethel Walker Schools and at Bryn Mawr College.
Mrs. Taft was a friendly, gracious and charming hostess. "She was strictly a wife and mother," a Taft staff member said Friday. "She appreciated life more than anyone I ever knew," said another staff member. "She never had any complaints. She always was just great."
Services were held at 11:a.m. Monday at the Indian Hill Church.
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1917 - 1968 (51 years)
