Esther Mabel Blankenship

She was born Esther Mabel Brown in Mustang, OK, in 1926. She grew up in Bridgeport, OK, and married her high school sweetheart there in 1946. While her husband, “Bud,” attended the University of Oklahoma, she graduated from Hill’s Business University in Oklahoma City, and worked there until Bud graduated from OU. They later lived in Oklahoma City and Tulsa, OK, Charlotte, NC, and ended up in Titusville, FL, in 1965. Following Bud’s retirement from McDonnell Douglas, they enjoyed 15 years of long vacations traveling the country in their motorhome.

Esther enjoyed crossword puzzles, crafts, quilting, and jigsaw puzzles. She was a member of the Titusville Homemaker’s Club for many years. She loved her family dearly and could always be counted on to offer her support and encouragement. She was a great conversationalist and had many interests, including the space program, politics, and sports, to name a few.

Esther was preceded in death by her husband of 68 years, Burnest (Bud) Elzy Blankenship. Survivors include her son, Michael (Patty), of Cocoa, FL; daughter, Lynn Grimes, of Tyler, TX; and daughter, LuAnn Harris, of Broomfield, CO. She is also survived by two grandsons, Aaron and Scott; three granddaughters, Brandy, Sherry, and Katharine; six great-grandchildren, Caleb, Kason, Kalen, Kaden, Kyle, and Kali.

Services and interment will be held at Brevard Memorial Park, 320 Spring Street, Cocoa, FL, on Saturday, September 10, 2022. A viewing will be held from 9:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m., with a service to follow. In lieu of flowers, the family is asking that donations be made to “St. Francis Reflections - Titusville.”