Eula Blankenship Bailey went home to be with the Lord on July 16, 2020 at the age of 103. She was born in Bradshaw, WV, on October 23, 1916 to the late C.W. and Lottie Blankenship. She was the oldest of 8 children eventually settling in Clear Fork, WV, where she lived her entire life. She graduated from Oceana High School in 1935 and then went on to Concord College graduating with her teaching degree and following her marriage to the late Harry L. Bailey, she taught in a 2 room school house in Elk Lick for several years before becoming the Clear Fork postmaster. She held that position for 34 years, retiring in 1982.
Eula and Harry raised 2 daughters, Janet and Ella. In addition to her busy hours in the post office, she helped her husband, Harry, with their store, Bailey’s General Store. She enjoyed needlework, crochet, embroidery and quilt piecing, and made beautiful throws for her family and friends. She loved to travel, taking many trips with her husband in their motorhome, as well as going on bus tours with a close group of girlfriends. Some of her favorite sites include New York, Niagara Falls, the western states and Hawaii. She loved to work crossword and jigsaw puzzles. She was also a big believer in exercise.
She was predeceased by her husband, both daughters, brothers; baby Franklin Blankenship, S.D. Blankenship, King Edward Blankenship and W.C. Blankenship as well as her sister, Elga Jean Short.
Those left to treasure her legacy include her 2 sisters; Helen Toler and Glenna Sue Childress, as well as her son-in-law, Donald Stanton, grandchildren; Kimberly Strickland, Angela Bossie, Chele Stanton, and Jon Michael Payne, and 13 great-grandchildren; Jennifer, Daniel, Kristen, Elizabeth, Ben, Heath and Grant Strickland; Katie Bossie O’Guin and Hannah Bossie; and Timothy, Matthew, Calvin, and Nick Payne; and many loving cousins, nieces and nephews.
She will be buried in her family cemetery in Clear Fork, WV, and a Memorial service will be held at a later date.. A special thank you is sent to the staff of Wyoming Nursing and Rehab for the loving care provided to her for the past year and a half. The family is being served by the Stafford Family Funeral Home, Lynco, WV.
