ZUNI — Earl Dewey Blankenship Jr., 70, passed away on Oct. 5, 2016, at his home.

Earl was a native of Franklin, and was a son of the late Earl D. Blankenship Sr. and Eugenia Scott Blankenship. He was also predeceased by a sister, Kathleen Magazo, and a brother, Billy Blankenship.

He was a retired staff sergeant with 22 years of service with the Virginia Army National Guard. He had retired from Hercules Inc. and retired as the Regional District manager for the Richmond Times Dispatch. In more recent years, Earl had been employed by WLQM radio station in Franklin as an advertising representative.

Earl was a member of Harvest Christian Fellowship, Sons of the Confederacy and a former member of the Hunterdale Ruritan Club and the Franklin Jaycees.

Survivors include his wife, Renee Antieau Blankenship; two daughters, Dayna Burton (Rick) of Franklin; and Dara Epperly (Brent) of Charlottesville; one son, Earl D. “Tre” Blankenship III (Karen) of Richmond; six grandchildren, Cole Barnette, Reagan and Carter Epperly, Ayden, Ashlynn and Landon Blankenship; Renee’s children, Bekah Shell (James) and Matthew Nowinski (Anne), all of Virginia Beach; and Luke Young (Jamie) of Texas; Renee’s five grandchildren, Vivianne Shell, Asher and Blake Nowinski, Kaitlyn and Ember Young; and nieces, nephews and cousins.

The funeral will be conducted at 1 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 11, in Wright Funeral Home, Franklin, with the Rev. Randy Wright officiating. The burial with military honors will be at 3 p.m. at Albert G. Horton Jr. Memorial Veterans Cemetery, Suffolk.

The family will receive friends on Monday from 6 to 8 p.m. in the funeral home, and suggests that memorial donations be made to the Multiple System Atrophy Coalition, 9935-D Rea Road. No. 212, Charlotte, NC 28277 (866-737-5999).

www.wrightfuneralhome.org.