Roy Wesley Blankenship, 83, of Gallipolis, went to join his Lord in Heaven on Sunday, October 6, 2013 at his home. Born March 27, 1930 in Portsmouth, Ohio, Roy was the son of the late Ollie and Dora Reed Blankenship. He was married to Joyce Howerton Blankenship and she preceded him in death in 2009. He was a U.S. Army Korean War veteran, having received a purple heart and two bronze stars. Roy was retired from Kaiser Aluminum. He was a member of Northup Baptist Church, a 50-year member of Centerville Masonic Lodge #371, and a member of the DAV and American Legion. Roy loved his family, grandchildren, hunting and fishing and loved his church.
In addition to his parents and his wife, Joyce Blankenship, he was preceded in death by a daughter, Vicki Johnson; a brother, Ray Blankenship and a sister Bea Adams.
Surviving are a daughter, Lisa K. (Anthony) Mulholand of Bidwell; two sons, Roy Keith (Sue) Blankenship of Gallipolis and Gary A. (Kathy) Blankenship of Little Hocking; a son-in-law, Steve Johnson of Lancaster; 13 grandchildren, Cory (Heather) Johnson, Dustin Johnson, Cari (Cory) Perroud, Nicholas Mulholand, Christie Blankenship, Andrew Blankenship, Cayla ( Ryan) Watson, Brody (Caity) Blankenship, Zachary Blankenship, Casee (Nicholas) George, Aaron Mulholand, Richelle Blankenship and Hannah (Devon) Smith; eight great-grandchildren, Austin and Aubrei Perroud, Collin Watson, Reece Watson, Olivia Lawrence, Eve George, Izzabel Blankenship and Rosalie Blankenship due in November; two sisters, Donna (Ed) Gilbert of Clearwater, Florida and Helen (Lee) Boysell of Seminole, Florida; three brothers-in-law, Jerry I. (Ellen) Howerton of Maloneton, Kentucky, John P. (Betty) Howerton of South Portsmouth, Kentucky, David W. Howerton of Felicity, Ohio; and several nieces and nephews.
A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, October 11, 2013 at the Willis Funeral Home with Pastor Jim Chapman officiating. Burial will follow in Centenary Cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home on Thursday, October 10, 2013 from 6 to 9 p.m. There will be full military services at the graveside by volunteers of area veterans’ lodges. Pallbearers will be grandsons Cory Johnson, Dustin Johnson, Andrew Blankenship, Brody Blankenship, Zachary Blankenship, Aaron Mulholand, and Nicholas Mulholand.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions be made to Northup Baptist Church, c/o Nelda Caldwell, 920 Northup Rd., Gallipolis, OH 45631. Please visit www.willisfuneralhome.com to send e-mail condolences.