When Rev Melvin Blanton was born on July 16, 1925, in Johnson, Kentucky, his father, manford, was 58 and his mother, estalona, was 28. He had three sons and five daughters with Jewell Jackson between 1945 and 1959. He died on June 15, 2010, in Oil Springs, Kentucky, at the age of 84.
Childrens' Names:
Charlene Blanton, of Lynch, Penny Jackson, of Alexanderia, VA, Connie May, of Springfield, Ohio, Tina Niece, of Staffordsville, and Jackie Puckett, of Little Pricey; David Blanton, of London, Donald Blanton, of Winchester, and Mike Blanton, of Oil Springs

Military Rites were held on June 18, under the direction of the Paintsville Funeral Home, for Melvin Blanton, 85, of Oil Springs, by the Disabled American Veterans, Chapter 15, Salyersville. He was the father of the Commander of Chapter 15 (Michael Blanton). Comrade Blanton entered the U.S. Army during World War II, September 15, 1943 and was discharged April 25, 1945, with a rank of private, after having been injured in combat in Italy. He was decorated during his Military service with; Purple Heart, Italian campaign with one bronze star, and the European/African Middle East Theatre Ribbon.
Members of Chapter 15 in attendance were: Chester Blanton, John E. Carpenter, Billy R. Caudill, A.B. Gose, Randal Hardin, Herbert Holbrook Jr., Chester Howard, Wayne Jenkins, Paul C. Lemaster, Jim Perry, Roy (Todd) Preston, Willard Risner, and Jake Runyon∼Melvin Blanton, 84, of Oil Springs, died Tuesday, June 15, at Paul B. Hall Medical Center, Paintsville. Born July 16, 1925, at Oil Springs, he was the son of the late Manford and Lona Williams Blanton. He was a coal truck driver and a World War II veteran. Survivors include his wife, Jewell Jackson Blanton of Oil Springs; three sons, David Blanton of London, Donald Blanton of Winchester and Mike Blanton of Oil Springs; five daughters, Charlene Blanton of Lynch, Penny Jackson of Alexandria, Va., Connie May of Springfield, Ohio, Tina Niece of Staffordsville, and Jackie Puckett of Little Pricey; two brothers, Chester Blanton of Swamp Branch and James M. Blanton of Oil Springs; two sisters, Beatrice Butler of Springfield and Judy Wolfe of Westerville, Ohio; 18 grandchildren; 24 great grandchildren; and a great-great-grandchild. Funeral services were Friday, June 18, at Paintsville Funeral Home Chapel, with Gerald Fairchild and Don Blanton officiating. Burial was in Manford Blanton Cemetery, Oil Springs, under direction of Paintsville Funeral Home, Paintsville. Big Sandy News Jun 2010

Military Rites were held on June 18, under the direction of the Paintsville Funeral Home, for Melvin Blanton, 85, of Oil Springs, by the Disabled American Veterans, Chapter 15, Salyersville. He was the father of the Commander of Chapter 15 (Michael Blanton). Comrade Blanton entered the U.S. Army during World War II, September 15, 1943 and was discharged April 25, 1945, with a rank of private, after having been injured in combat in Italy. He was decorated during his Military service with; Purple Heart, Italian campaign with one bronze star, and the European/African Middle East Theatre Ribbon.
Members of Chapter 15 in attendance were: Chester Blanton, John E. Carpenter, Billy R. Caudill, A.B. Gose, Randal Hardin, Herbert Holbrook Jr., Chester Howard, Wayne Jenkins, Paul C. Lemaster, Jim Perry, Roy (Todd) Preston, Willard Risner, and Jake Runyon.
Our thanks to Rusty Preston and the staff of Paintsville Funeral Home.