Menu
Search by Name
Search by Name
FUNERAL HOME
Orville Blankenship Obituary
At the age of 15, Orville began working for the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway Company where he finished a 4-year painter's apprenticeship program in just 2 years. Orville served in the United States Army as a paratrooper with the 82nd Airborne Division. While stationed at Fort Benning, Georgia he met and married Joan Williams of Columbus, Georgia. In 1959, Orville and his wife, Joan, and their daughter, Joyce, moved from Huntington, West Virginia to California where he worked as a painter until his emphysema led to a medical retirement at age 55. While living in Tracy, California, Orville's wife, Joan of 51 years, died in January of 2000. Shortly afterwards, Orville moved to San Jose to live near his daughter, Joyce, and her family.
Orville was also known as Lucky, a nickname he was given as a youth when he won a roller-skating championship. He was a member of the Lion's Club of Alameda, California. He enjoyed fishing, playing cards, and watching football games. He especially enjoyed watching his grandchildren play sports. He had a great sense of humor and was easy-going and very generous.
Orville is survived by his daughter from a previous marriage, Doris Haun and her husband Ted, of Huntington, West Virginia; he is also survived by his daughter Joyce Pope and son-in-law Patrick Pope of San Jose, California. He had 6 grandchildren; Brian, Kelly, and Michael Pope of San Jose, and Michelle, John and Mysti from Huntington, West Virginia, now residing in South Carolina. He had 1 great-grandson, Matthew of South Carolina. Orville (Lucky) will be missed by his family and friends, but will be remembered with love and warm memories.
A memorial service will be held at Fry Memorial Chapel in Tracy, California on Tuesday, November 26, 2002 at 11:30 a.m. Visitations will be held on Tuesday, November 26, 2002 at 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Interment will be at the Tracy Public Cemetery.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for Orville Blankenship
0 Entries
Be the first to post a memory or condolences.
Make a Donation
in Orville Blankenship's name
Memorial Events
for Orville Blankenship
How to support Orville's loved ones
Honor a beloved veteran with a special tribute of ‘Taps’ at the National WWI Memorial in Washington, D.C.
The nightly ceremony in Washington, D.C. will be dedicated in honor of your loved one on the day of your choosing.
Read more
Should I Send Sympathy Flowers?
What kind of arrangement is appropriate, where should you send it, and when should you send an alternative?
Read more
What Should I Write in a Sympathy Card?
We'll help you find the right words to comfort your family member or loved one during this difficult time.
Read moreResources to help you cope with loss
Estate Settlement Guide
If you’re in charge of handling the affairs for a recently deceased loved one, this guide offers a helpful checklist.
Read more
Obituaries, grief & privacy: Legacy’s news editor on NPR podcast
Legacy's Linnea Crowther discusses how families talk about causes of death in the obituaries they write.
Read more
The Five Stages of Grief
They're not a map to follow, but simply a description of what people commonly feel.
Read moreWays to honor Orville Blankenship's life and legacy
Obituary Examples
You may find these well-written obituary examples helpful as you write about your own family.
Read more
Obituary Templates – Customizable Examples and Samples
These free blank templates make writing an obituary faster and easier.
Read more
How Do I Write a Eulogy?
Some basic help and starters when you have to write a tribute to someone you love.
Read more
Sponsored