Grafton Eugene Blankinship Jr.

On Tuesday, April 08, 2014, Grafton Eugene Blankinship, Jr., 90 (known to his children and grandchildren as Dad), joyfully passed into the loving arms of his wife, Jane, while surrounded by his children. Born in Galveston, Texas, March 6, 1924, he was a son of the late Grafton Eugene Blankinship, Sr. and Elsie Brown Blankinship. He was the owner and operator of Blankinship Appraisal Company and Blankinship & Sons Insurance Company. Grafton was a resident of “Timberlake” for 60 years, a faithful and longtime member of St. Andrew Presbyterian Church where he served as a Deacon, a Boy Scout Troop Leader, and a past member of the Retreads Motorcycle Club. He served his country in World War II as a Sergeant in the US Army Aircorp from 1944-1946. He received the American Campaign Medal, Bronze Service Medal, APT Campaign Medal, Good Conduct Medal and Victory Medal. From 1952 through 2011 he was a member of the NAR/Lynchburg Association of Realtors. In 1999 he received the Lynchburg Association of Realtors President’s Service Award. In 2008 he received the status of Realtor Emeritus for 40 years of membership in the National Association of Realtors. Grafton was a lifetime member of the Appraisal Institute achieving the highest designation of a MAI/SRA, appraising commercial and residential properties throughout the state of Virginia. Grafton was an avid trout fisher, hiker and loved spending time in the Outer Banks with his wife and family. He was preceded in death by his loving wife of 60 years, Jane Elizabeth Hudson Blankinship and one brother, Gilbert P. Blankinship of Anchorage, Alaska. Survivors include one son, Grafton E. “Blanks” Blankinship, III and his wife Carla of Lynchburg; three daughters, Lynn B. McFaden and her husband Ted of Evington, Laura B. Childress and her husband Rodger of Pamplin and Mary Jane B. Davis of Virginia Beach; one brother, Brown F. Blankinship of Lynchburg, three sisters-in-law, Nancy Hudson (Jim), Frances Hudson, and Joan Blankinship of Anchorage, Alaska, eight grandchildren, Jenny Moore (Carnel), Donnie Butler, Jr., Samantha Hudson (Brian), Lindsey Hedrick (Mike), Nathan Davis, Jessi Otey (Seth), Lauran Davis and Celeste Lawrence (Ray) and nine great grandchildren. The family wishes to thank the angels who were sent as caregivers which include Gale Duggins, Viginia “Gini” Simmons, Margaret Bowling, Evelyn Smith, Janie Davis, Nannie Jones and Centra Hospice of Lynchburg. The family will receive friends from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Thursday, April 10, 2014 at Whitten Timberlake Chapel. A memorial graveside service will be conducted at 2:00 p.m. Friday, April 11, 2014 at Fort Hill Memorial Park with the Rev. David Etheridge and the Rev. Chuck Willoughby officiating. Those wishing to make memorial contributions are asked to consider St. Andrew Presbyterian Church, the Alzheimer’s Association - Central and Western Virginia Chapter or Centra Hospice of Lynchburg.