Bob E. Blankenship, 78, of Lebanon, died unexpectedly at his residence.
The son of Alexander and Vina Gabbard Blankenship, he was born Oct. 15, 1933, in Lynchburg, Ky. He graduated from Lynchburg High School in 1951. He then attended the University of Kentucky, majoring in electrical engineering.
Bob then moved to Titusville, Fla., where he went to work for the Space Center and began traveling to different Air Force bases to install air conditioning systems.
When Bob Jr. was born, the Blankenship family moved to Lebanon in 1962, and Bob went to work with Stewart Warner. He then accepted a position with the Walter F. Greene Company in industrial sales, and eventually purchased the company. In 1991, he sold the business and moved to Asheville, N.C., working as a sales representative in the industrial cutting tool business. Bob eventually moved back to Lebanon and worked for Crankshaft Machine as a national sales manager based out of Jackson, Mich., until his retirement in 2009.
His hobbies included fishing, hunting, golfing and watching auto races. He was an avid fan of the University of Kentucky, Indianapolis Pacers and Colts.
Bob married Carolyn “Kay” King on Oct. 4, 2003; she survives. Other survivors include his children, Bob Blankenship Jr. of Palm Bay, Fla., Brenda Howard of Carlisle, Pa., Scott (Chelsea) King of Lebanon and Jean (Greg) Kolp of Lebanon; siblings, Alexander “Bud” (Joyce) Blankenship of Lebanon, Helen Ruth Smith of Lexington, Ky., Norma Dobson of Columbus, Malcolm (Sandra) Blankenship of Corbin, Ky., Lou (Bill) Luttrell of Lebanon and William “Bill” (Barbara) Blankenship of Corbin; and 10 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents; siblings, Margaret Ann Blankenship, Darlene Doty, Janet Thomas and Thomas Richard Blankenship; and a grandson, Robert Wesley Blankenship.
Family and friends will gather from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday, Jan. 27, in the Strawmyer & Drury Mortuary, 2400 N. Lebanon St., Lebanon. The service will be 2 p.m. Friday at the mortuary, with the Rev. Lee Faust officiating. Bob will be laid to rest in the Oak Hill Cemetery, Lebanon.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Boone County Canter Society or the American Cancer Society.
Online condolences may be made at www.strawmyerdrury.com.
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