Mr. Bon L. Blankenship, age 90, of Carthage, died Tuesday morning, August 7, at the home of his son following an extended illness.

Edward L. Anderson officiated at the Friday afternoon services from the Carthage Chapel of Sanderson Funeral Home. Burial followed the 3:00 p.m. services in the Smith County Memorial Gardens.

One of seven children of the late Ben and Lula Dixon Blankenship, he was born January 24, 1917 in the Wartrace Community of Jackson County. A brother, Frank Junior Blankenship, and a sister, Hilda Mae Hudson, preceded him in death.

On February 13, 1938, Mr. Blankenship was united in marriage to the former Anna Alice Strode. The Blankenships only daughter, Dovie Blankenship Lawson, died July 15, 2000.

For many years, Mr. Blankenship owned and operated the Blankenship and Son General Merchandise Store in North Springs before selling and becoming supervisor of maintenance at Carthage General Hospital in 1974.

His family moved to Carthage from Jackson County in 1977. He attended North Springs High School where he was an outstanding basketball player. Mr. Blankenship was a member of the Carthage Church of Christ.

Surviving in addition to his wife of over sixty nine years, Anna Blankenship, is a son, Ricky Blankenship of Carthage;  son-in-law, William Phillip Lawson of Smyrna;  sisters, Estelle Cox of Nashville, Gladys Huffines of Hermitage, Christine Donoho of Webbtown, & Dorothy Kendall of Cookeville;  a grandson, Michael Lawson; and a great-grandson, Will Lawson.

Sanderson of Carthage in charge of arrangements.