RICHARD MILBURN BLANKENSHIP

Richard Milburn Blankenship, 81 of Bastian, VA, went home to be with the Lord, Monday, March 28, 2022.  Born in Rocky Gap, VA, he was the son of the late Earnest and Letha Nelson Blankenship.  He was a Christian, a very kind and generous man with a sense of humor and quick wit.  Richard and his late wife Edith were members of Round Bottom United Methodist Church and were very active in all of the ministries and functions of the church.  He loved gardening vegetables, cooking and baking and fishing.  He had served his country in the United States Army and the Reserves.  During his life's career, he was a Police Officer, while also serving as Town Manager at Rich Creek, VA.  In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife: Edith Neel Blankenship; siblings: Fred and Donald Blankenship; daughter: Linda Haynes.

He will be lovingly and affectionately missed by his daughters: Jennifer Burton (Danny) of Rocky Gap, VA, Bethanie Hubbard (Gene) of Hillsville, VA and Kimberly Looney (Steve) of Bastian, VA; grandchildren: Keith Durham, Chris Morris, Melissa Whitney (Brett), Jamie Weise (Preston), Jeremy Burton (Samantha), Derek Hubbard (Ashley), Heather Looney and Jessica Baker (Seth); numerous great and great great-grandchildren; sister-in-law: Winifred Blankenship and her children, Marilyn Holt and Tony Blankenship and their families.

A service to celebrate Richard's life will be held Saturday, April 02, 2022 at 12:00 P.M. noon at Dudley Memorial Chapel with Rev. Donnie Bailey and Rev. Rodney Lawson officiating. Mercer County Honor Guard will conduct Military Rites.  His body will be laid to rest at Grandview Memory Gardens.  Pallbearers will be Michael Holt, John Holt, Garland Tolbert, Preston Weise, Jeremy Burton and Derek Hubbard.  Al Kitts, Johnny Gibson, Eugene Hull and Becky Holt will serve as honorary pallbearers.

Friends may visit with the family on Saturday at Dudley Memorial from 11:00 A.M. until the hour of the service.

The family would like to express a special thanks to Jamie, Preston, Daniel and Madison Weise, Angie Hodge, Al and Carol Kitts, Eugene Hull, Johnny Gibson, Terry Neal, Pete Dye, Connie Saunders, Garland Tolbert and Bastian Union Church "Feed my Sheep".

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to Bastian Union Church for "Feed My Sheep", P.O. Box 152, Bastian, VA  24314