Margaret Downing Blank

November 17, 1928 - April 27, 2022

Margaret was born in Honolulu, Hawaii. An army family, they left when she was three and lived in Texas and New Mexico before moving to San Bernardino in the 1940’s. She attended San Bernardino High School, where she met her high school sweetheart and first husband, George Chaney.

In the 1950’s she was a telephone operator at Pacific Telephone Co. There she met Cliff Blank. They married in 1958 and resided in San Bernardino until 1971, when they moved to Del Mar, California. She later used her phone operator experience in her favorite job on the Del Mar Racetrack switchboard. That turned into a full-time position as a switchboard (PBX) operator at Scripps Memorial Hospital in LaJolla for over 25 years, retiring at 75.

After 37 years living in Del Mar, she downsized her home moving to Carlsbad, where she lived for 10 years until moving north to the Central California Coast (Atascadero) in 2019 to be closer to family.

Her siblings preceded her in death: Jean Ferrante, Donald McKown, twin Anna McKown and Floyd McKown Jr.

Margaret is survived by daughters Pam Pritchard, Lori Bono and son Tobin Blank, as well as five grandchildren and five great grandchildren. She was a beloved mother, grandmother, aunt and friend.

Graveside service will be held on Thursday, May 19 at 1 pm, Hermosa Gardens Cemetery, 900 N. Meridian Ave, Colton, CA. Lunch buffet to follow at DoubleTree Hotel, 285 E. Hospitality Lane, San Bernardino, CA.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Margaret’s name to The Salvation Army or charity of your choice.