Virginia Lou Blankenship

Virginia Lou Blankenship
Date Of Birth: 06/28/1944
Date of Death: 04/14/2024
Virginia was born in Seattle, Washington to Marion and Jean Shockley. While Marion built ships for the U.S. Navy, Jean held down the house and attended to Virginia, and Virginia's older brother, Jerry. When World War II concluded, the Shockleys relocated to Yakima, Washington.
Virginia grew up surrounded by family and friends. After graduating from Eisenhower High School, she worked in a local hospital where her mother also worked. In her twenties, Virginia met and fell in love with Kern Blankenship. They married in 1966.
A few years later, Virginia and Kern welcomed their first child, Heather. For several years, they lived happily in Selah, Washington. Eventually, the family relocated to Aloha, Oregon, where Virginia's son, Aaron, was born.
In Oregon, Virginia worked for Farmers Insurance for a few years, but she spent the bulk of her career with the Beaverton School District. She balanced work and family with grace and humility. She cooked and baked, shuttled her children to activities, and doctored innumerable cuts and scrapes. She gave limitless hugs, wise words of encouragement, and loving nudges in the right direction. In addition to crosswords, jigsaw puzzles and gardening, Virginia read countless books and served as her family's unofficial librarian.
In retirement, Virginia's greatest joys were her grandsons, Ben and William Green. She loved their rambunctious energy, and she took great joy watching them grow into men. In her role as Nana, Virginia was truly content.
Virginia passed peacefully surrounded by family. She will live on in their memories. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to the American Diabetes Association.