A “Son of the South”, Mr. Blankenship was born and raised in Charlotte, North Carolina. He graduated from Central High School in 1957 and the North Carolina State University in 1961 with a degree in Engineering. He was a Captain in the United States Air Force serving as a navigator. He retired from IBM. He was an active member of the Sons of Confederate Veterans- Mechanized Cavalry.
Mr. Blankenship was preceded in death by his mother, Pauline Ferguson Blankenship, his father, Van Lee Blankenship, and his brother, Herbert McCord Blankenship (USMC). He is survived by his wife of 27 years, Tracie Diane Blankenship, sons Robert Vann Blankenship, Jr., and Charles Blankenship (Trina), and his grandson, Coleman Vann Blankenship.
A memorial gathering will take place at Green Lawn Cemetery, Roswell, Georgia, on Saturday, May 14th at 2:00 pm. A graveside service will be held on Tuesday, May 17th, at Forest Lawn Cemetery in Charlotte, North Carolina.
me, Roswell, GA.
