Virginia Irene Blankenship

Virginia Irene Blankenship

Virginia Irene Blankenship departed this life in peace on April 20, 2016, at Vintage Park Assisted Living, Paola, Kan. She was born April 23, 1923, the youngest of five children to Edgar "Doc" and Dora Post. Virginia grew up in rural Fort Scott, Kan. After high school graduation, she earned a cosmetology license in Kansas City. She then moved to Hawaii, where she served our country during World War II at Hickam Field. In Hawaii, she met and married Guy Strickland Blankenship, a Pearl Harbor survivor. He preceded her in death on July 22, 1993. Virginia and Guy returned to the Midwest, raising two children in Lenexa, Kan., and later retiring to Fort Scott. She touched the lives of many, and was continually helping others. Family members could always count on Virginia to help them when needed, and her good deeds inspired those who knew her to be better people. In addition to serving our country, Virginia also served the community around her through volunteer work. She enjoyed gardening and watching sports, but most of all, she enjoyed being with her family.

Survivors include a daughter, Carol Niemann and husband Gary, Overland Park, Kan.; a son, David Blankenship and wife Susan, Paola, Kan.; a sister, Marjorie Bowser, Coffeyville, Kan.; five grandchildren, Candice, Cynthia, Bradley, Michael, and Melia; and six great grandchildren. The family would like to thank Vintage Park of Paola and Grace Hospice of Kansas City for Virginia's care.

There was cremation. Graveside memorial services will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, May 2, in the U.S. National Cemetery, Fort Scott. Memorials are suggested to the Deanna Rose Children's Farmstead and may be left in care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, P.O. Box 347, 201 S. Main St., Fort Scott, Kansas 66701. Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.