Richard J. Bianchi, 86, resident of Milford, NH, died October 25, 2010 at Epoch Healthcare in Brewster, MA, after a courageous battle with a lengthy illness.

He was born in Milford, NH on March 19, 1924, a son of the late Egidio J. and Irene (Bennett) Bianchi. A lifelong resident of Milford, he attended Milford High School, graduating in 1942.

Inducted into the U.S. Army in 1943, he took training at Camp Shelby, Mississippi and at O’Reilly General Hospital in Springfield, Missouri. After 2½ years in Europe, he returned home and went to work for his father, who owned The Economy Supply Company in Milford, from 1946 until his retirement in 1986.

Mr. Bianchi was a communicant of St. Patrick’s Church, Milford. He was a member of Ricciardi Hartshorn Post #23 American Legion and Harley Sanford Post #4368 VFW, Milford.

He was predeceased by a brother, David “Micky” Bianchi.

Family members include his wife of 64 years, Lillian (Boly) Bianchi of Milford, whom he married in Florenville, Belgium on November 10, 1945; a daughter and son-in-law, Vivian & Larry Perry of Eastham, MA; two grandchildren; a great-grandson; a sister, Barbara Bianchi of Milford; and several nephews.

Calling hours are Thursday, October 28th from 2-4 & 6-8 pm in the Smith & Heald Funeral Home, 63 Elm Street, Milford.

A mass of Christian burial will be celebrated on Friday at 10:00 am in St. Patrick’s Church, 34 Amherst Street, Milford. Burial will follow in Riverside Cemetery, Milford. In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory may be made to the Salvation Army, 1 Montgomery Avenue, Nashua, NH 03060 or American Cancer Society, 30 Speen Street, Framingham, MA 01701.

Arrangements are in the care of Smith & Heald Funeral Home, 63 Elm Street, Milford, NH. To leave an online condolence, please go to www.smith-heald.com.