Howard Sherman Blankenship

Howard Sherman Blankenship, 75, of Bedford, Va., passed away Tuesday, April 27, 2010, at Centra Lynchburg General Hospital. He was born on Sunday, March 17, 1935, in Bedford County, a son of the late Edgar Blankenship and Ruth Farley Blankenship. He was a retired mechanic, was a member of Moose Lodge #1727, and was a veteran of the United States Air Force. Surviving are his sisters, Emma Vedder, of New York, Martha Edwards and Ann Goad, both of Bedford, and Eleanor Blankenship, of College Park, Md.; as well as many nieces and nephews and great-nieces and nephews. The family requests those wishing to make memorials to consider Bedford Ride, 1613 Oakwood St., Bedford, Va. 24523 or Meals on Wheels, P.O. Box 1390, Lynchburg, Va. 24505. Funeral services will be held at the graveside 1 p.m. on Friday, April 30, 2010, at Virginia Memorial Park with the Rev. David Bayse officiating. Friends may call on Thursday after 1 p.m. and the family will receive friends from 6 until 8 p.m. at Updike Funeral Home & Cremation Service, Bedford.