WILLIAM BLANKENSHIP

William Douglas Blankenship June 25, 1934 - May 26, 2012 Resident of Walnut Creek William (Bill) Douglas Blankenship passed away in Walnut Creek, CA on May 26, 2012 at the age of 77. Bill was the devoted husband of Linda, his wife of 51 years; a loving father of Lisa, Douglas, Kristen, Adam, and Beth; a beloved older brother of Don; and a proud grandfather of Billy, Amber, Rachel, Daniel, Chris, Curtis, Jessika, Risako, Jordyn, Siggi, Che, Devyn, Stevie, and Samson. Born in Chicago on June 25, 1934, Bill was the son of Douglas and Iva Blankenship. He was a lifelong Trojan, graduating from the University of Southern California in 1957 after attending Pasadena City College. After college, he spent two miserable years in the U.S. Army. He began a career in communications at the Pasadena Chamber of Commerce before a distinguished 30-year tenure at IBM as a communications manager and speechwriter in San Jose, White Plains, Armonk, and Tokyo. During his IBM years, he lived with his family in San Jose, Ridgefield, CT, and Tokyo. Books were a lifelong passion. Bill was the bestselling author of 12 novels: The Helix Files, The Programmed Man, Leavenworth Irregulars, Tiger Ten, Yukon Gold, Brotherly Love, Blood Stripe, The Time of the Cricket, The Time of the Wolf, Ghost of Silicon Valley, Daisy on Wheels, and Mark Twain and the Hanging Judge. His books were published in 27 languages, and Brotherly Love became a CBS movie of the week in 1985. Bill loved movies, jazz music, libraries and bookstores, taking walks around Walnut Creek, traveling around Northern California with friends and family, and McDonald's apple pie. He spent his retirement in the company of and traveling the world with his wife, children, and grandchildren. Bill was especially close to his grandson, Siggi, his fellow juvenile delinquent and partner in crime, and his daughter Lisa and son-in-law Allen Cristwell. Bill was a great friend to many and was loved for his warmth, humor, generosity, and the great tolerance and respect he showed towards everyone he knew. He loved people and he made them laugh. In lieu of flowers, donations in the name of Linda and William Blankenship can be made to Hospice of the East Bay, at 3470 Buskirk Avenue, Pleasant Hill, CA, 94523.