Gregory Charles Blankenship, age 64 passed away Monday morning March 31, 2014 at Regional Hospital of Jackson.
He was born April 28, 1949 in Wyandotte, Michigan and raised in River Rouge, Michigan, the son of the late Harold Jack Blankenship and Mary Ann Kederowtz Blankenship Adkins. He was raised by his mother and stepfather Tommy Adkins. He entered the U.S. Army in 1967 and served during Vietnam. After the service he began working for Norfolk and Western Railroad and worked as a switchman and conductor. He married Barbara Jean Woodward in 1976 and they lived in Michigan two years, Florida three years and moved to Henderson in 1985. He also worked in the railroad department at Ford Motor Company in River Rouge, Michigan. Greg retired in 1984 after suffering a major heart attack. Barbara died in 2004. He was a member of the Henderson Elks Lodge and served on the Board of Trustees. He was a member of the Bethel Baptist Church.
Mr. Blankenship is survived by a stepdaughter, Debra Tompkins of Henderson; two grandchildren, Derek Tompkins and wife Megan of Jackson and Dylan Tompkins of Henderson; a great grandchild, Madison Tompkins and three brothers, Larry Blankenship of Henderson, Thomas Adkins and wife Janine of Southgate, Michigan and Jeff Adkins and wife Tracy of Taylor, Michigan.
Funeral services will be 11:00 AM Friday at Shackelford Funeral Directors – Casey Chapel and burial will follow with Military Honors at Bethel Cemetery in Chester County, TN
The family will receive friends at Casey Chapel 5:00 PM until 9:00 PM Thursday.
Shackelford Funeral Directors – Casey Chapel
Henderson, TN
731-989-2421
