John Gilliard Blankenship, 91, passed away Saturday, October 27, 2018, at his home.
Born May 14, 1927, in Rock Hill, SC, he was a son of the late Bernard C. and Margaret Percival Blankenship.
He was also preceded in death by a sister, Mary Ann Matheny and brothers, Charles Blankenship, William Earl Blankenship, Bernard C. Blankenship, and James M. Blankenship.
His family moved to Swannanoa in 1931, where John later graduated from Swannanoa High School. He was a Navy veteran of WW II, serving on the destroyer USS Taussig in the China Theater during the China Civil War.
After the war, John worked on the lakes in the Merchant Marines for eight years.
John then returned to NC where he worked for Parkland Chevrolet and later managed the body shop for Apple Tree Chevrolet before retiring.
John is survived by his wife of 50 years, Pauline R. Blankenship; daughter Dr. Margaret Elizabeth “Beth” Smith (Corey); grandson, Caleb Smith, granddaughter Kaycee Smith; sister, Nancy Wells (Bruce); and nieces Susan Woolwine and Pam Roman.
The family will receive friends in the parlor of Groce Funeral Home on Patton Avenue from 1:00 to 1:30 p.m. Sunday, November 4, followed by a funeral service at 1:30 p.m. Pastor Allen Rash of Trinity Baptist Church will officiate.
A private burial will be at 11:00 a.m. Monday at Forest Lawn Memorial Park.
Source Citation: Groce Funeral Home
Born May 14, 1927, in Rock Hill, SC, he was a son of the late Bernard C. and Margaret Percival Blankenship.
He was also preceded in death by a sister, Mary Ann Matheny and brothers, Charles Blankenship, William Earl Blankenship, Bernard C. Blankenship, and James M. Blankenship.
His family moved to Swannanoa in 1931, where John later graduated from Swannanoa High School. He was a Navy veteran of WW II, serving on the destroyer USS Taussig in the China Theater during the China Civil War.
After the war, John worked on the lakes in the Merchant Marines for eight years.
John then returned to NC where he worked for Parkland Chevrolet and later managed the body shop for Apple Tree Chevrolet before retiring.
John is survived by his wife of 50 years, Pauline R. Blankenship; daughter Dr. Margaret Elizabeth “Beth” Smith (Corey); grandson, Caleb Smith, granddaughter Kaycee Smith; sister, Nancy Wells (Bruce); and nieces Susan Woolwine and Pam Roman.
The family will receive friends in the parlor of Groce Funeral Home on Patton Avenue from 1:00 to 1:30 p.m. Sunday, November 4, followed by a funeral service at 1:30 p.m. Pastor Allen Rash of Trinity Baptist Church will officiate.
A private burial will be at 11:00 a.m. Monday at Forest Lawn Memorial Park.
Source Citation: Groce Funeral Home
John Gilliard Blankenship, 91, passed away Saturday, October 27, 2018, at his home.
Born May 14, 1927, in Rock Hill, SC, he was a son of the late Bernard C. and Margaret Percival Blankenship.
He was also preceded in death by a sister, Mary Ann Matheny and brothers, Charles Blankenship, William Earl Blankenship, Bernard C. Blankenship, and James M. Blankenship.
His family moved to Swannanoa in 1931, where John later graduated from Swannanoa High School. He was a Navy veteran of WW II, serving on the destroyer USS Taussig in the China Theater during the China Civil War.
After the war, John worked on the lakes in the Merchant Marines for eight years.
John then returned to NC where he worked for Parkland Chevrolet and later managed the body shop for Apple Tree Chevrolet before retiring.
John is survived by his wife of 50 years, Pauline R. Blankenship; daughter Dr. Margaret Elizabeth “Beth” Smith (Corey); grandson, Caleb Smith, granddaughter Kaycee Smith; sister, Nancy Wells (Bruce); and nieces Susan Woolwine and Pam Roman.
The family will receive friends in the parlor of Groce Funeral Home on Patton Avenue from 1:00 to 1:30 p.m. Sunday, November 4, followed by a funeral service at 1:30 p.m. Pastor Allen Rash of Trinity Baptist Church will officiate.
A private burial will be at 11:00 a.m. Monday at Forest Lawn Memorial Park.
Source Citation: Groce Funeral Home
Born May 14, 1927, in Rock Hill, SC, he was a son of the late Bernard C. and Margaret Percival Blankenship.
He was also preceded in death by a sister, Mary Ann Matheny and brothers, Charles Blankenship, William Earl Blankenship, Bernard C. Blankenship, and James M. Blankenship.
His family moved to Swannanoa in 1931, where John later graduated from Swannanoa High School. He was a Navy veteran of WW II, serving on the destroyer USS Taussig in the China Theater during the China Civil War.
After the war, John worked on the lakes in the Merchant Marines for eight years.
John then returned to NC where he worked for Parkland Chevrolet and later managed the body shop for Apple Tree Chevrolet before retiring.
John is survived by his wife of 50 years, Pauline R. Blankenship; daughter Dr. Margaret Elizabeth “Beth” Smith (Corey); grandson, Caleb Smith, granddaughter Kaycee Smith; sister, Nancy Wells (Bruce); and nieces Susan Woolwine and Pam Roman.
The family will receive friends in the parlor of Groce Funeral Home on Patton Avenue from 1:00 to 1:30 p.m. Sunday, November 4, followed by a funeral service at 1:30 p.m. Pastor Allen Rash of Trinity Baptist Church will officiate.
A private burial will be at 11:00 a.m. Monday at Forest Lawn Memorial Park.
Source Citation: Groce Funeral Home
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