Calvin Blankenship, Jr., 91, of Clintonville, WV formerly of Kopperston, went home to be with the Lord on Saturday, October 23, 2021at Greenbrier Valley Medical Center, Lewisburg, WV. He was born on December 3, 1929 in Cyclone, WV a son of the late Calvin Blankenship, Sr. and Bertie Emily Daniels Blankenship. Calvin attended Family Praise and Worship Center and James Chapel United Methodist Church. He is a United States Marine Corps Veteran, a 1949 graduate of Oceana High School, a coal miner, expert horseshoe pitcher, and a member of the Lions Club. He loved all types of sports, coached ball teams, and always supported local athletes. He loved the outdoors, hunting, fishing, and he taught children, grandchildren, many nieces, nephews, and friends these skills. He was always willing to try anything new. He loved to travel with his wife and family, and always knew which way to go. He had an incredible sense of direction, he could drive anything anywhere. He took a car where most people couldn’t take a Hummer. He was respected and loved by everyone that knew him and was honest to a fault. He was a hard worker and able to fix anything mechanical, he didn’t expect anything from anyone working with him that he was not willing to do himself, but when the work was done he knew how to have a good time. He also enjoyed spoiling his dogs and cats.
In addition to his parents he is preceded in death by his sisters Lula and Ashby Brown, Brookie Ann and George Toler, Jr., Ida Jone and Garner Brown, Gladys Marie Brown, Freeda June and Joseph Cook, Sadie and Callie Smith brothers, Joseph Lee and Inez Blankenship, William Riley and Sue Blankenship, Freeman Blankenship, and Arnold Dewey and Violet Blankenship.
Survivors include his loving wife of 66 years Betty Ruth McClellan Blankenship a daughter Vicki Blankenship Gallaher and husband Michael P. of Clintonville a son Michael Lee Blankenship and wife Jean Ann Toler of Mont Vale, VA grandsons, Lucas Michael Gallaher and fiancé Mallory Schiendle of Vermontville, MI, and Joshua Lee Blankenship and wife April Taylor of Lynchburg, VA granddaughter Kayla Blankenship of Greensboro, NC great granddaughters, Nikki Blankenship Cook and her husband John of Clintonville, Julian Gallaher and her mother Elizabeth Gallaher of Clay, WV, MacKinzie and Savannah Jean Blankenship of Lynchburg, VA, and Karsyn Bishop and her mother Kristina Bishop of Rupert great grandson Aaron Franklin Irick of Frisco, TX great great grandson Bently James Irick God-Daughter Gina Ruth Maynard of Kopperston and a host of other loving family and friends.
Funeral service will be held at 1 pm on Friday, October 29th in the Chapel of Stafford Family of Funeral Home, Lynco, WV with Rev. Timmy Brewster, Rev. Rick Brown, and Pastor Jesse Pope officiating. He will be laid to rest in Palm Memorial Gardens, Matheny, WV. Friends may gather with the family from 12 pm until time of service on Friday at the funeral home. Military rites will be conducted by the Wyoming County Veterans Honor Guard. Pallbearers will be family and friends. Donations of sympathy may be made to the churches. Special thanks to Greenbrier Valley Medical Center third floor and ICU nurses, doctors, and staff.
The family is being served by the Stafford Family Funeral Home, Lynco, WV.