Vennie Blankenship

Vennie Blankenship, 77, of Hanover, went home to be with his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, and to join his loved ones waiting for him in heaven, on Saturday, January 22, 2011, from his home, following a short illness.

Born on August 2, 1933 at Reedy Creek of Simon, he was the son of the late Wirt and Sadie Kenneda Blankenship.

In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Helen Louise Lester Blankenship; one brother, Benjamin; and one sister, Marie.

Vennie was a loving husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother, uncle, and friend. He was a veteran of the US Army, receiving the National Defense Service Medal and the Good Conduct Medal. He was a retired coal miner and a faithful member of the Long Branch Freewill Baptist Church, where he served as Bible class teacher for many years. He will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved him.

Those left to love and cherish his memory and to mourn his passing include his two daughters: Belinda (Jessie) Kennedy and Brenda Cline both of Hanover; his two sons: Joe (Madeleine) Blankenship of Simon and Vennie (Lori) Blankenship, Jr., of Lester; his ten grandchildren: Darren, Danny, and Josh (Danielle) Kennedy, Brandi (Justin) Johnson, Jody (Alison) and Jeff (Amanda) Cline, April Walls, Chad (Brandy) Zack (Shanon), and Jasmine Blankenship; his sixteen great-grandchildren; a special loved one, Bethel Morgan; his five brothers: Jay (Linda), Hobert (Retha), Allen (Betty), Jonathon (Lois), and Lonnie (Donna) Blankenship; his sister, Dolly Collins; and a host of other dear family and friends.

Friends may gather with the family at the Long Branch Freewill Baptist Church on Tuesday and Wednesday, January 25th and 26th, after 6 pm with a special service at 7 pm.

Funeral services will be held at 1:00 pm on Thursday, January 27th at the Long Branch Freewill Baptist Church with the Rev. Dennis Lester and Rev. James Ellis officiating.

Burial will follow in the Blankenship Family Cemetery at Reedy Creek of Simon. Military grave side services will be performed by the Disabled American Veterans Chapter # 141 of Belfry, Kentucky

He will be carried to his final resting place by his nephews.

He is gone from our sight but never from our hearts.