Charles Philip Blankenship

1938 - 2022

Charles Philip Blankenship died on January 21, 2022 from complications associated with brain cancer.

Born March 5,1938 in Bluefield, WV, Charlie was the son of Charles Scott & Margaret Virginia (Greene) Blankenship. He was preceded in death by his wife, Helen Gayle King Blankenship; his brother Ronald (Shirley), nephew Michael, brother James Ted (Sally).

In 1956 he graduated from Beaver High School in Bluefield, WV. He was a graduate of Virginia Tech (Corps of Cadets, Class of 1960). He earned BS and MS degrees in Metallurgical Engineering and he was awarded the prestigious Cincinnatus Award from the Society of the Cincinnati in VA. He served as a commissioned officer in the U.S. Air Force.

Charlie and Gayle began a relationship in high school that continued in their college years. They were married in 1960 and shared 44 wonderful years together. Most of their activities together focused on family and family events. Most memorable were summer vacations on the fresh water lakes of VA-Claytor Lake and Smith Mountain Lake. With sons Chip and Tim and the King family clan, water skiing, sailing and fishing were the activities that brought them together. Life was very good.

In 1961, Charlie was assigned to NASA's Lewis Research Center in Cleveland, OH where he conducted materials technology development programs for aircraft and space transportation systems. After completing his Air Force tenure, he continued his materials development work with NASA at the Cleveland Center. In 1980, he transferred to NASA's Langley Research Center in Hampton, VA as Chief of the Materials Division. In 1983, he was appointed Langley's Director for Structures and led the Center's aircraft and spacecraft research and technology programs in materials, structures, landing dynamics, and acoustics. He was selected to lead the Center's newly expanded program for Technology Commercialization in 1993. In 1994 he served as Deputy Director of NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, AL. In this capacity he was a leader in the development of the new super lightweight tank for the Space Shuttle. He returned to Langley and in 1996 and served as the Agency Manager for NASA's Subsonic Aircraft Technology Program.

During his NASA career, Charlie received the Presidential Meritorious Award, the NASA Outstanding Leadership Medal, the SEA National Distinguished Executive Service Award, and the SAE Wright Brothers Medal. He published and presented numerous papers on materials technology developments for applications that included aircraft and automotive turbine engines, aircraft and spacecraft structures, and nuclear propulsion systems.

After retiring from NASA in 1997, he served as a technology consultant to industry and to several government agencies. He served as the Director of the Technology Commercialization Center, Inc. in Hampton, VA from 2000 to 2003.

In 2007, Charlie was inducted into the Academy of Engineering Excellence, College of Engineering, Virginia Tech.

His survivors include: Son, Charles "Chip" P. Jr. (Belinda), grandsons Connor, William, Benjamin and John, son Timothy K. (Julie), nephew James "Jim" Blankenship and niece Kimberly (Ensing).

Finding love once in a lifetime is remarkable. Charlie was fortunate to find love twice, spending the years after Gayle passed away with Sue Starnes. Sue's warmth and energy brightened their many days shared including their hiking adventures in the US National Parks.

Charlie was a member of Yorkminster Presbyterian Church in Grafton, VA for more than 40 years. Interment will be at Peninsula Memorial Park, Newport News, VA with a private graveside service. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that a donation be made to Hospice of the Piedmont https://www.hopva.org/giving/