Charles Blankenship

MATOAKA - Charles Edward Blankenship, 91, passed away on November 24, 2017 surrounded by friends and family. Born on February 19, 1926 in Basin, WV he was the son of the late Thomas Howard Blankenship and Lora Mae Cole Blankenship. Charles graduated from Matoaka High School and served in the Philippines in the US Navy during WWII before marrying the love of his life, his wife of 70 years, the late Rema Faye Shrewsbury Blankenship. Charles was an integral part of the Matoaka and Mercer County communities throughout his entire life. He was a member of the Ashworth Memorial United Methodist Church in Matoaka for over 87 years, where he enjoyed singing in the choir and serving as President of the Methodist Men. Charles was also a 32 degree Mason and was a member of Lodge 134. He served as President of the Kiwanis Club and was also a member of the Moose Lodge beginning in 1949, as well as being a member of the Elks, VFW, West Virginia Fraternal Order of Police and the West Virginia Sheriff’s Association. Charles was a charter member of the Ruritan Club of Lashmeet. In addition to serving as Mayor and Volunteer Fire Chief for the town of Matoaka, as well as, a bus driver for the state of West Virginia for many years, he and his brothers and father were the proprietors of Blankenship’s Gulf Station; and, he and his wife, Rema, enjoyed being the proprietors of C&R Furniture and Hardware. He enjoyed bowling and playing his harmonica, and was thrilled to go on many fishing trips with friends and family over the years. Charles had a way of entertaining everyone with stories of the town and his many adventures. He was loved deeply and will be missed by all who knew him. In addition to his parents and his wife, Charles was preceded in death by his son, Charles Howard Blankenship; brother, Lawrence H. Blankenship; sister, Eva McDaniel and brother-in-law Jim; brother, Paul R. Blankenship and sister-in-law Jean; brother, Claude E. Blankenship; nephew, Jay Blankenship; brother-in-law, Cliff Hoffman; grand-niece, Melissa Palmer; great-niece, Eleanor Palmer-Boyer and August Palmer-Boyer; sister-in-law, Marie Shrewsbury and niece, Sheila Croy. Charles is survived by daughter, Sherry Lynn Sharpe Johnson and husband, Bill of Greensboro, NC; granddaughter, Lisa Ann Fara Johnson and husband, Kevin, great-granddaughter Lora Grace Fara all of Portsmouth, VA; grandson Mark Howard Sharpe and wife Danielle, and great-granddaughters Hannah and Sadie Sharpe of Blowing Rock, NC; nephew, Ron Blankenship of Princeton; sister-in-law, Toni Blankenship; niece Sandra Palmer and husband, Terry; grand-niece, Erica Palmer and husband, Craig Boyer and great-nephews, Jay Thomas and Finnly Elias Palmer-Boyer, great-niece Maggie Boyer and great-nephew Andrew Boyer of Greensboro, NC; and nephew, Bret Palmer of Madison, NC; brother-in-law, Winfrey Shrewsbury and nephews Stephen and Jonathan Croy all of Princeton; sister-in-law, Sharon Rose Hoffman of Paradise, CA; niece, Susan Hoffman and husband Blaine Wells of Roseville, CA; additional grandchildren and great great-children include Felicia, Todd, Junie and Chloe Wright, of Chapin, SC; Dustin Sanson of Greenville, SC; Derek Sanson of Charleston, SC; Billy, Chris and Joshua Johnson of Greensboro, NC; and Megan and Melissa Hicks of Madison, NC. The family would also like to thank special care-giver, Shirley Tiller. Funeral services will be conducted at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, November 28, 2017 at the Rowland H. Bailey Funeral Chapel of the Bailey-Kirk Funeral Home in Princeton with Captain Jerry Shields officiating. Interment will follow at Monte Vista Park Cemetery in Bluefield where military honors will be conducted by the Mercer County Veterans Honor Guard. Those wishing to make memorial contributions may visit www.parkinson.org; or mail checks made payable to Parkinson’s Foundation at 200 Southeast First Street, Suite 800, Miami, FL, 33131. The family will receive friends Monday, November 27, 2017 from 6-8 p.m. at the Bailey-Kirk Funeral Home in Princeton. To view a video tribute to Mr. Blankenship, or share condolences with the family, please visit www.bailey-kirk.com.

Tributes

Charles Blankenship

February 19, 1926 - November 24, 2017