William Thomas Blankenship Sr.

Blankenship, William Thomas, Sr., 85, of Mechanicsville, passed away on April 8, 2014. He was preceded in death by his wives, Violet T. Blankenship and Betty A. Blankenship. He is survived by his son, William T. Blankenship, Jr. (Karen Blankenship); daughters, Valerie L Thacker (Robert N. Thacker, Jr.) and Diane E. Collins; grandchildren, Tyler Lee Blankenship, Seth Collins and Sydney Collins; and sisters, Bernice MacFarland, Daisy Hall and Thelma Tinsley. Billy was retired from Northside Electric Company as a field superintendent. He was a former president of the Virginia Field Trial Association and also a 60 year veteran of Local Electrical 666 Union. He was honorably discharged from the U.S. Marine Corps as a Sergeant and was twice awarded the good conduct medal, Presidential Unit Citation, Korean Service Medal, and a United States Medal. The family will receive friends from 4-8 pm on Friday, April 11, 2014 at the Nelsen Funeral Home, Reid Chapel, 412 S. Washington Hwy., Ashland, VA 23005. A graveside service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, April 12, 2014 at Greenwood Memorial Gardens, Richmond, VA.