Obituary

Services Saturday For Al Blankenship, 94

James Allen (Al) Blankenship, prominently known 94-year-old resident of Ann's Run, near Creston, died at 1:40 p.m. Wednesday, June 3, at his residence following an extended illness.

He was born in Wirt County, a son of the late George P. and Abashaba Starcher Blankenship.

He was a member of the Mt. Pleasant Methodist Church near Creston, and was a member of the Burning Springs Masonic Lodge, No. 132, A.F. & A.M.

As a young man he was a guard in the penitentiary at Joliet, Ill., but later spent most of his life as a carpenter, working in a lot of places with the John P. Pettyjohn Construction Co. He worked for 30-some years at the carpentry trade with the Rev. W.D. Dotson, a neighbor from Spring Creek, who will officiate at the memorial service Saturday. Mr. Blankenship also was a blacksmith, and farmed to supplement the family livelihood.

Survivors include four daughters, Mrs. Lou Owens of Parkersburg, Mrs. Mildred Lynch and Mrs. Emma Lynch, both of Creston, and Mrs. Ruth Bramer of Akron, Ohio; four sons, Basil and George Blankenship, both of Parkersburg, James A. Blankenship, Jr., of Akron, O., and Robert Blankenship of Circleville, O.; two sisters, Mrs. Margaret Sauerburn of Huntington, and Mrs. Ella Howard of Ft. Smith, Ark. Also surviving are nine grandchildren, and eight great-grandchildren.

Mr. Blankenship was preceded in death by his wife, Mrs. Ella Leota Parks Blankenship March 16, 1950, and by one son, two sisters and four brothers.

Funeral services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Saturday at the Mt. Pleasant Methodist Church with the Rev. W.D. Dotson of Parkersburg officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery.

Friends may call at the late residence after 5 p.m. Friday until the time of the services. The Pomroy Funeral Home, City, is in charge of the arrangements.