Ronald Blankenship was born on September 3, 1944 in Panther, West Virginia to two loving parents, Zelphia and Boone Blankenship.

He worked as a coal miner for a few years. He started a company with his brother Kelly in a garage. They moved it to a bigger building, finally ending up in Ridgely, Tennessee in a 60,000 foot building with 5 trucks on the road. Ron remained a hard worker up unto the day of his stroke on January 30th. He was always the first with a joke and loved making people laugh and never met a stranger.

He leaves behind a loving wife, Grace Blankenship of Dyersburg; a son, W. Blankenship (Anna) of Hernado; a grandson, Lucius Blankenship Wierzbicki of Aurora, IL; a precious daughter, Kristine Wierzbicki; a loving granddaughter, Kate Wierzbicki; three daughters, Christina Anne Duncan of Ridgely, Brandy Aleis Duncan (Robert) of Hornbeak, Jennifer Ashley Turner (John) of Dyersburg; grandchildren, Jacob, Tyler and Gunnar Wood of Hornbeak, Sierra Cooper and Nadia Cooper of Ridgely, Abby Turner and Ethan Turner of Dyersburg; and a sister, Janet Blankenship of Newark, Delaware.

He was preceded in death by his mother and father; and a brother, Kelly (Helga).

Viewing will be Friday from at 5-6:30 p.m. at the Dyersburg Funeral Home Ridgely Chapel. Funeral services will be at 6:30 p.m. Friday with the Rev. Ronnie Turner officiating.

A celebration of life service will begin Friday, March 16, 2018 at 8 p.m. at the Dyer County Fairgrounds.

We are grateful for Jerry Rodriguez who brought Ron to the Lord last week so now we will see him down the road. Also, Greg Armstrong for helping him become a member of First Christian Church.