William "Bill" Mark Blankinship

Son of the late Grover Francis and Virginia Blankinship (nee Scott); beloved husband of Mary Ann Blankinship (nee Mechler); loving father of Shannon (Stephen) Williams and Maureen (Matthew) Stroer; adored grandfather of Benjamin & Nathan Williams and Elijah & Audrey Stroer; dear brother of Scott (Paulette) Blankinship & Tom (Alana) Blankinship; dear cousin of Suzi (Joe) Mattus, Michael Jones & Erin Jones; dear uncle of Paul Blankinship, Elizabeth Blankinship, Jamie Kalinski, Melissa Vaughn & Nicholas Blankinship.

Bill was a 1968 graduate of St. Louis University, served in the United States Air Force from 1969-1972, worked at the Illinois Central Gulf Railroad from 1972-2006 and then Union Sarah from 2006 until his retirement in 2015. He volunteered with the Magdalen Players building sets, was a self-taught woodworker, and a loyal poker buddy.

Bill was charming, witty and always at the ready with a “good” dad joke. A source of warmth and comfort to everyone who knew him. The greatest joys of his life were his wife, daughters, sons-in-law and grandchildren.

SERVICE: Visitation, Thursday, July 1st from 4:00 pm – 8:00 pm at Hoffmeister Colonial Mortuary, 6464 Chippewa St.; St. Louis, MO 63109. A private interment with full military honors will be held at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery. Memorial Mass, Thursday, July 15th, 7:00 pm at Mary, Mother of the Church; 5901 Kerth Rd.; St. Louis, MO 63128.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Bill’s name may be made to the Wounded Warrior Project, 4899 Belfort Rd., Suite 300; Jacksonville, FL 32256 or the National Kidney Foundation, 30 East 33rd Street; New York, NY 10016.