James W. Blankenship

James W. Blankenship James W. (Bill) Blanken-ship, a resident of County Road 69, Newville, (Bertha Community) died Saturday afternoon, October 23, 2010 at his home. He was 84. Funeral services will be held 2:00 P.M. Monday, October 25, 2010, in the New Hope Baptist Church in the Bertha Community with Reverend Shane Tray-lor and Rev. W.M. Todd officiating. Graveside services, with military honors, will follow in the church cemetery. Holman-Head-land Mortuary is in charge of arrangements. Flowers will be accepted or memorial contributions may be made to the New Hope Baptist Cemetery Fund, c/o Billy R. Gran-tham, 826 County Road 7, Skipperville, AL 36374. Mr. Blankenship was a native of Henry County, son of the late James Grady Blankenship and Minnie Belle Barefield Blanken-ship. He lived most of his lifetime in the Bertha Community of Dale County. Mr. Blankenship served his country in the United States Army during World War II and later retired from the Alabama Army National Guard in Abbe-ville after twenty-six years service. He retired from the Dale County Commission as a mechanic in automotive and heavy equipment repair. In earlier years, Mr. Blankenship was employed with the Murphy-McGee Oil Company in Abbeville as a truck driver and also self-employed as a mechanic. He was a member of the New Hope Baptist Church. Mr. Blankenship was preceded in death by two sisters, Melba Brannon and Gail Herring and also four brothers, Dan Blank-enship, Marvette Blanken-ship, Jack Blankenship and Gerald Blankenship. Surviving relatives include his wife of sixty-two years, Bonnie Ward Blank-enship, Bertha Community; two daughters, Cathy Eidson and husband, Mike, Birmingham, AL; Pam Seltzer and husband, Rick, Knoxville, TN; two sons, Jack Blankenship and wife, Trish, Bertha Community; Mark Blankenship and wife, Lori, Ozark, AL; nine grandchildren, Amy Marler and husband, Ray; Carrie Yoell and husband, Alan; James Michael Eidson and wife, Melanie; Brandon Eidson and wife, Claire; Brittany Blankenship Johnson and husband, Troy; Jordan Blankenship Davis and husband, Nick; Kristen Osterman, Brent Seltzer and Ashley Seltzer; six great-grandchildren, Logan Marler, Ellis Johnson, Mattie Eidson, Jack Yoell, Chase Yoell and Chloe Yoell; three sisters, Bernell Nolin, Headland; Shirley Davis, Wichita, KS; and Myrtle Brannon, Newville, AL; a sister-in-law, Hazel Jackson and husband, Reverend Ron Jackson, Brun-didge, AL; two brothers-in-law, Ralph Herring, Gainesville, GA; Roscoe Brann-on, Montgomery, AL; several nieces and nephews. Serving as active pall-bearers will be James Michael Eidson, Ray Marler, Alan Yoell, Brent Seltzer, Nick Davis, Troy Johnson, Cullen Blankenship and Charles Baxley. Holman-Headland Mortuary, (334) 693-3371, www.holmanmortuaries.com is in charge of arrangements. Sign a guest book at www.dothaneagle.com.