JAMES T. (JIM) BLANKENSHIP PASSED AWAY ON SUNDAY, JANUARY 2, 2022
PEACEFULLY AT HIS HOME.

HE WAS BORN IN RICHMOND, VA. ON SEPTEMBER 5, 1932, THE SON OF FLOYD WILSON & SUSIE MAE BLANKENSHIP

HE IS SURVIVED BY HIS WIFE OF 62 YEARS, WILMA JEAN BLANKENSHIP,

A SON DONALD C BLANKENSHIP (WIFE KIM) OF EDINBURG, VA.

A SISTER KAREN TILLEY (HUSBAND GARY) OF BAY CITY, TEXAS.

THREE GRAND CHILDREN, EMILY ANNE & LEVI SCOTT BLANKENSHIP AND BRANDON BAKER (WIFE RAYANN BAKER) AND TWO GREAT GRANDCHILDREN, HUNTER & CONNOR BAKER.

A SON ANTHONY SCOTT BLANKENSHIP AND BROTHERS FLOYD, JR., MAURICE AND A HALF BROTHER RICHARD BLANKENSHIP PRECEED HIM IN DEATH

HE IS BEST REMEMBERED FOR HIS 60 PLUS YEARS IN THE PETROLEUM

BUSINESS. FIRST, WITH ESSO STANDARD OIL CO (EXXON CO., USA (OVER 27 YEARS) OIL HEAT & BURNER SERVICE, AND H. N. FUNKHOUSER & CO (OVER 30 YEARS) HE CAME TO WINCHESTER IN 1969 AND WAS ACTIVE IN DEVELOPING AND REMODELING STATION SITES ON 1-81. AND MANAGING SEVERAL PETROLEUM BUSINESSES

HE GRADUATED HIGH SCHOOL IN 1949 AT JOHN MARSHALL HIGH SCHOOL, AND FURTHERED HIS EDUCATION BY WORKING HIS WAY THROUGH COLLEGE. HE ATTENDED AMERICAN UNIVERSITY FOR TWO AND ONE/HALF YEARS AND RECEIVED HIS GRADUATE DEGREE IN PETROLEUM MANAGEMENT FROM HUMBLE INSTITUTE (A DIVISION OF THE ESSO EDUCATION FOUNDATION).

HE WAS ACTIVE IN SCOUTING AS AN EAGLE SCOUT AS A YOUTH, AND HIS ADULT LIFE AS A DEN LEADER, SCOUTMASTER (SEVERAL TROOPS) & DISTRICT COUNSELOR HE RECEIVED NUMEROUS AWARDS. ORDER OF THE ARROW & WOOD BADGE HE ALSO INSTRUCTED AS A WOOD BADGE COUNSELOR

HE WAS ALSO A 32″^d DEGREE MASTER MASON (HIRAM LODGE 21, WINCHESTER) AND A SHRINER OF KENA TEMPLE AND WINCHESTER SHRINE CLUB.

EARLIER IN HIS LIFE, HE WAS ACTIVE IN THE VIRGINIA JAYCEES AS A STATE OFFICER FOR 4 YEARS, AND RECEIVED THE KEY MAN AWARD. OTHER ACTIVITIES WERE AS A VOLUNTEER FIREMAN FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS IN BLACKSTONE, VA. HE WAS ACTIVE IN YOUTH BASEBALL IN THE PLACES HE LIVED. RICHMOND, BLACKSTONE, FARMVILLE, AND IN WINCHESTER.

ONE ACCOMPOLISHMENT OF WHICH HE WAS VERY PROUD, WAS HE TAUGHT THE TRAINING SCHOOL FOR NEW SERVICE STATION DEALERS AND HE WAS ABLE TO START NUMEROUS MEN INTO THE STATION BUSINESS. HE ALSO ASSISTED IN TRAINING OF MANY MEN AS FUTURE SALESMEN AND PLANT OPERATORS IN THE PETROLEUM BUSINESS.

HE ENJOYED PLAYING GOLF, SPENDING TIME AT THE CABIN AND HUNTING WITH HIS SON DONALD. HE WAS A MEMBER OF THE FORT VALLEY HUNT CLUB.

HE ENJOYED PLAYING WITH HIS BELOVED DOGS BRINDLE, HERSHEY, AND SHADOW AND WAS A SUPPORTER OF TH SPCA AND OTHER ANIMAL SUPPORT GROUPS

AS AN ADULT, HE PARTICIPATED IN YOUTH SPORT ACTIVITIES. HE MANAGED ROTARY LITTLE LEAGUE BASEBALL FOR 17 YEARS, AND OTHER YOUTH PROGRAMS.

RECENT HEALTH PROBLEMS SLOWED HIM DOWN .BUT HE STILL ENJOYED BEING WITH HIS FAMILY AND GRAND CHILDREN.

HE WAS A MEMBER OF BURNT FACTORY UNITED METHODIST CHURCH.

A VISITATION WILL BE HELD ON MONDAY, JANUARY 10, 2022 AT 11AM WITH A SERVICE TO FOLLOW AT 12PM, ALL HELD AT OMPS FUNERAL HOME, AMHERST CHAPEL. OFFICIATING WILL BE REV. STEVE MELESTER.

IN LIEU OF FLOWERS, MEMORIAL CONTRIBUTIONS CAN BE MADE TO

BURNT FACTORY UNITED METHODIST CHURCH, 1943 JORDAN SPRINGS RD,

STEPHENSON, VA 22656 OR SPCA OF WINCHESTER, 111 FEATHERBED LANE, WINCHESTER, VA 22601.