Stephen Edward Blankinship

Stephen (Steve) Edward Blankinship, 74, of Raleigh, NC, passed away on Friday, March 4, 2016, at Mission Hospital in Asheville, NC, with his family by his side. A memorial service to celebrate Steve’s life will be held on April 9, 2016, at 2:00 P.M. at St. John’s Baptist Church, 1615-A Oberlin Road, Raleigh, NC, 27608. Visitation will follow the service.

Born on May 8, 1941, in Lynchburg, VA, he was the son of Edward Berg and Evelyn Pleasants Blankinship. Steve was a 1963 graduate of the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, VA. On August 22, 1964, he married Nancy “Pepper” McFall in Front Royal, VA and moved to Raleigh where he began his career working for Triangle Universities Computation Center(TUCC), SAS, and Triangle Systems, until his retirement in 2006.

He loved to make 18th century reproduction furniture and to play the violin, which he did at St. John’s Baptist Church, Raleigh, for over 30 years. He spent many happy days at ‘the cabin’ in Virginia, hunting, fishing and being with his family. One of his favorite activities was being outdoors and hiking in the mountains with his brother-in-law, Harry Gaines. He was very active at St. John’s Baptist Church, serving as a Deacon, Sunday school teacher, church moderator, choir member, and doing anything else that was needed. He was a warm, kind, compassionate, dedicated, fun and loving man, and will be greatly missed by all of us.

He is survived by his loving wife of 51 years,” Pepper”; a son, Charles E. Blankinship and wife, Laura Hope, of Charlotte, NC; a daughter, Stephanie B. Walker and husband, Bryant, of Apex, NC; two beloved granddaughters, Taylor Elaine McNinch and Sara Kate Blankinship; and a loving grandson: Justin B. Walker. Also, a sister, Jo Ellen B. Gaines and husband, Harry, of Mechanicsville, VA; a brother-in-law, Charlie McFall and his wife, Karen, of Richmond, Va.; a sister-in-law, Jeanie M. Simar and her husband, John, of Lawrenceville, NJ; an aunt, Geneva Blankinship, of Lynchburg, VA; a VERY special cousin, Judy Johnson of Raleigh, who was with us on the journey and helped in so many ways; his caregiver and friend for many months, Teresa Chambers; he also leaves many nieces, nephews, cousins, and very close friends who meant so much to him.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Bryan Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center, Duke University Medical Center, 2200 West Main Street, Suite A-200, Durham, NC, 27705; or St. John’s Baptist Church, 1615-A Oberlin Road, Raleigh, NC 27608.