Micheal (Mike) Vernon Blankenship, 75, was welcomed into his heavenly home on April 15, 2024 from his home in Franklin.
He was born Sept. 22, 1948, in Portsmouth, Virginia, and was the son of the late Leonard Douglas Blankenship and Alice Perthenia Black Millan. He was raised on the family farm in Upper Tract by his maternal grandparents, Walter William and Olena Dahmer Black.
Mr. Blankenship was a devout Christian, a friend and helper to all. He worked hard all his life until the day he passed when he was working on a project with his eldest son, Mick.
He loved his family and was so proud and supportive of their accomplishments, especially his grandchildren. He tried to attend every recital, play, sporting event and ceremony that his grandchildren participated in up until his passing. He enjoyed being outdoors, lending a helping hand to a neighbor in need, offering advice on any project, singing, playing his guitar, and living with the Lord. He was a talented speaker and writer.
He was a faithful member of Christ Central Community Church since 1979, where he was a lay leader for many years. He officiated several weddings and performed funeral services for many of his friends and family members. He completed a Walk of Faith with Rainbow Via De Cristo in Frederick, Maryland. He led a Wednesday prayer group at James Madison University for many years.
He graduated from Franklin High School in 1966. After high school, he studied engineering at Potomac State College, Columbia Institute of Technology and Northern Virginia Community College.
He was an accomplished engineer, designer and business owner. He started his career in the metro Washington, DC, area where he was head engineer on many projects for more than 10 years. He built the first high rise in Tysons Corner, Virginia. He was the head engineer on the Crystal City Complex in Arlington, Virginia. One of the highlights of his career was the Washington, DC, temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in Kensington, Maryland.
He moved his family to West Virginia where he established the Micheal V. Blankenship, Inc. construction firm. Some of the projects he completed were the Lovegrove Complex, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church and the Reeds Creek Fish Hatchery addition. He was a Scholz Home builder where he built multiple houses in the area. Two homes stood out to him that he completed. One multi-home project was the renovation of his friend and “brother” Larry Rexrode and wife, Beverly’s, home, Maple Manor, along with the relocation of a home from the current location of the Franklin Subway. The other home is the one he built for his friend and “brother” Mike Hammer. He designed and built a home for his family that was completed in 1988. He worked for Pendleton County Schools for five years as the maintenance director, working with another dear friend, Doug Simmons, where he completed the school bus garage on Route 33 near the state police barracks.
In 1989, he began his career as a capital outlay project architect/engineer at James Madison University. His first project at JMU was Buress Hall. His notable projects he oversaw were Plecker Athletic Performance Center, the entire CISAT Campus including the bridge over Interstate 81, the Warsaw Street Parking Deck and the Forbes Center for the Performing Arts. After retirement from JMU, he oversaw construction projects at Bridgewater Retirement Community and was clerk of the works for the construction of the new Franklin Elementary School and projects at Pendleton County Middle/High School and North Fork Elementary School.
Mr. Blankenship was a friend and mentor to many throughout his life. He never met a stranger. He leaves behind a legacy and testaments to his expertise through his projects at JMU, the Blue Ridge Valley, Northern Virginia and Washington, DC, but most of all the guidance and knowledge he passed on to all who crossed his path.
His dear friend, Eli Zugay held a special place in his heart and for the last 50 years, Zugay visited West Virginia and spent two weeks with the Blankenships. He also held a special place in his heart and dearly missed his hunting buddies, Harvey Mitchell and Delbert Mowery.
He and his wife had a passion for traveling, and they only lacked seven states to have been to all 50 states. They enjoyed many trips to Canada, Mexico, Western, Eastern and Southern Carribean. The two of them had traveled extensively with a senior bus group in Romney. His mother, Alice, initiated the travel bug in them in the early years of their marriage as they traveled many places with her in her motorhome. The Blankenships, their children and grandchildren ventured on many trips and cruises together, including their yearly vacations to Massanutten, Virginia, to their “mountain home” (a tradition started by his mother in the 80s, where he had been on the board of directors and the planning committees), to Pigeon Forge, Tennessee (which they had a great love for), Branson, Missouri, numerous trips to Disney, including California with Nevin and his family, the entire Atlantic Coast (they love the ocean), the Pacific Coast with Nevin and his family during a 21-day trip out west together and to Hawaii with Mick and his family.
On June 28, 1969, he married his high school sweetheart and the love of his life for 54 years, Nancy Mitchell Blankenship, who survives.
Also surviving are two sons that he was so proud of and adored, Micheal (Mick) Vernon Blankenship, II, and wife, Teresa Conley Blankenship of Hinton, Virginia, and Nevin Jason Blankenship and wife, Vickie VanMeter Blankenship of Harrisonburg, Virginia; three grandchildren who called him “Paw Paw,” Jerica Blankenship of Hinton, Virginia, and Alexis Blankenship and Jathan Blankenship, both of Harrisonburg, Virginia.
He was also preceded in death by a sister, Patricia Blankenship; and a brother, Larry Blankenship.
Funeral services were held Saturday at Christ Central Community Church in Upper Tract. A graveside service followed at Kline Cemetery in Upper Tract.
Memorial donations may be made to Paw Paw’s Bridge to Education Fund through Pendleton Community Bank, c/o Nancy Blankenship.
Memories and words of comfort may be left at www.basagic.com.
