Obituary of Kenneth Ray Blankenship

Kenneth Ray Blankenship Of Kopperston, WV Kenneth Ray Blankenship, 87, of Kopperston, formerly of Proctor Bottom, went to be with the Lord Friday, May 4, 2012, at Logan Regional Medical Center at Logan, after a sudden illness. He was born January 19, 1925, at Six Mile in Boone County, a son of the late Millard and Nora Stollings Blankenship. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his first wife, Mary Riffe Blankenship; one daughter, Sheila Jean "Cookie" Blankenship Walden; one granddaughter, Jennifer Jones; one sister, Sylvia Mae Adkins; one step-daughter, Ernestine Thomas; and one step-grandson, David Prince. Kenneth was a retired coal miner formerly employed with Amherst Coal Company for 25 years. He was a member of the UMWA District 17. An Army veteran, Kenneth served during World War II in Germany and France. Kenneth enjoyed talking about the Lord, gardening, fishing, and hunting. Those left to cherish his memory are his wife, Nellie Cook Blankenship; four daughters, Phyllis (Roddie) Sizemore of IN, Betty Delores Wooten of Proctor Bottom, Dorothy K. (Harry) Jones of Kistler, and Misty (Eric) Lester of Lorado; one brother, Bill Blankenship of Princeton; two step-sons, Ralph (Rhonda) Bailey of Bruno and Shane (Alssa) Kirkendoll of Kopperston; three step-daughters, Christine (Michael) Prince, Drema (Rodney) Kirkendoll, and Elestine Lusk, all of Kopperston; many grandchildren, great-grandchildren, great-great-grandchildren, 11 step-grandchildren, and 14 step-great-grandchildren along with a host of other relatives and friends. Funeral services will be held at 1:30 p.m., Wednesday, May 9, 2012, at Greenbranch Freewill Baptist Church at Man with Rev. Roland Cook officiating. Burial will follow in Forest Lawn Cemetery at Pecks Mill where military graveside rites will be conducted by VFW Post 6153 and American Legion Post 103 of Chapmanville and DAV Post 39 of Harts. Visitation will be held from 6- 10 p.m. Tuesday at the church and one hour prior to services at the church also. Pall bearers will be family and friends. Online condolences may be sent to www.krantzmcneelyfuneralhome.com Arrangements have been entrusted to the care of the Krantz-McNeely Funeral Home at Man.