William H. Blankenship Sr.
Published 6:11 pm Sunday, February 21, 2016
FRANKLIN — William Harold “Billy” Blankenship Sr., 83, entered into his Savior’s loving arms on Feb. 20, 2016, surrounded by his entire family. Born on Aug. 15, 1932, in South Carolina and reared in Franklin, Virginia, Billy was a son of the late Earl D. Blankenship Sr. and Eugenia Scott Blankenship, and was predeceased by his beloved sister, Kathleen B. Magazu.
William H. Blankenship Sr.
He was a Coast Guard veteran and attended Old Dominion University. Billy was a former employee of Western Electric telephone Company in Virginia Beach, former owner and operator of B&B Landscaping in Virginia Beach, and had retired from Hercules Incorporated in Franklin.
After his retirement he enjoyed 15 years of making medicine deliveries for Parker Drug Store.
Billy was a former member and deacon of Hunterdale Christian Church, and was a member of Franklin Congregational Christian Church. He was a member of the Hunterdale Ruritan Club and a lifetime member of Black Creek Hunt Club.
Left to cherish his memory are his loving wife of nearly 62 years, Lena Rose Blankenship; his devoted children, Julie B. Grizzard (Timmy), William H. Blankenship Jr. (Sandie), Michael L. Blankenship (Sandy) and Brandon P. Blankenship (Lynn); brother, Earl D. Blankenship Jr. (Renee); sister-in-law, Bernice Wilson; eight grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; and nieces and nephews.
Billy loved people and never entered a room that he didn’t bring a smile to someone’s face. He also enjoyed his horses and dogs his entire life. His grandchildren and great-grandchildren always knew that they were the apple of his eye, and so did all the children he and Lena helped raise through her childcare.
The funeral will be conducted at 2 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 25, in Wright Funeral Home with the Rev. James H. Hyatt Jr. and the Rev. Matthew Kidd officiating. Burial with military honors will follow at Poplar Spring Cemetery.
The family will receive friends on Wednesday from 6 to 7:30 p.m. in the funeral home and suggests memorial donations be made to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.
www.wrightfuneralhome.org.