Mahlon Blumenshine

Everyone loved Mahlon, and he seemed to love anyone he met.  Mahlon, the brother of three sisters, was born on May 11, 1928, on a Washington area farm during the Great Depression. As other Depression babies relayed, for years, Mahlon told me he had received an orange, pen knife, and hard candy for Christmas. During his high school years, he worked at the A&P, waking up early every morning to fire the store furnace. He married Carolyn in 1960. They raised their three sons, Wes, Brad, and Blake, in their beloved Washington.

Mahlon was a 1946 graduate of WCHS, and in 1948 was drafted into the U.S. Army and was stationed in Japan to serve in the Korean War.

Back in Washington, Mahlon managed the A&P and, in 1953, began his banking career at Central Bank in Peoria. He and Carolyn married in 1960, built their home a year later, and continued to live and raise their three sons in their neighborhood for years. Mahlon’s career led to becoming president of East Peoria Community Bank and later Sunstar Bank. During his banking years, one of his most memorable days would have been the bank hold-up!

Mahlon loved his hometown so much that he seldom even vacationed because he couldn't think of anywhere else he'd rather be. One memorable trip, however, was their visit to Singapore in 1999, where their son was stationed with Caterpillar. Mahlong was a collector of currency, farm antiques, smoking memorabilia, medical quackery, political pins, and commemorative plates. Probably due to being raised during the Depression, he threw nothing away, which eventually became a family joke.

Mahlon treasured his daughters-in-law and 6 grandchildren as much as his sons.  As well as closeness to family, he and Carolyn ate dinner every few months and every New Year's and played games with The Group (Mahlon's classmates, war buddies, spouses, and other friends). When they were young, Carolyn and Mahlon bowled in a mixed doubles league, and Mahlon bowled in a men's league. Mahlon also enjoyed a friendly game of bocce ball, croquet, billiards, and tabletop shuffleboard. He and his sons used to play cribbage for hours. He and Carolyn also enjoyed Saturday night neighborhood poker games and Sunday drives. His favorite entertainment choices were Johnny Carson, “The Honeymooners,” and “Wheel of Fortune.” Not many Washingtonians could compete with his well-tended yard, flowers, and garden. When dining out, he was generous with $2 bills for tips, and servers loved waiting on him.

Mahlon was a member of the Washington Evangelical United Methodist Church, Kickapoo Council of Boy Scouts, president of the American Institute of Banking, a Washington alderman 1979-83, treasurer of Dist. 50 schools, member of the Washington American Legion, charter member of the Washington VFW and Sunnyland Business Association, and president of the Panther Booster Club. He and Carolyn also strongly supported the Five Points Community Center project. His loyalty and support for his hometown teams and community earned him the Fan of the Year title in 1994 and, in 1999, and he was named Washingtonian of the Year by the business community.

Mahlon loved the business of banking; he was the ultimate small-town banker who knew everyone in town and who would loan someone money when no one else would. To this day, some locals remember him as the person who helped them start a business.  He was also a man who was generous with his praise and patience.  If someone acted unpleasant, Mahlon would attribute it to the person “having a bad day.” Since he didn’t like conflict, he would calmly accept the first price quoted when buying a new car instead of requesting a lower price and offering the first price quoted to him for his car when HE was the seller.

Mahlon Blumenshine loved family gatherings and all things and people related to his hometown. On January 5, 2012, at the age of 83, Mahlon left our company.  So many people in Washington would miss him at games, in local businesses, and sitting on his porch to wave at passers-by. He deserved the Washingtonian of the Year award as much as anyone could.