Frank Carson Blankinship, 79, a longtime Ontario resident and businessman, and a former Baker City resident, died Aug. 11, 2001, at Baker City.
At his request there will be no services.
Mr. Blankinship was born Sept. 27, 1921, in an apartment on Resort Street to Etta Lurchin and Elmer Blankinship. He was raised by his grandparents, Kit and Dammie Harpham. He accompanied his grandparents as Kit worked as a dynamite specialist in various gold mines around Sumpter and in the Wallowas. He attended school in Homestead, and then in Baker.
He married Lela Mitchell in August 1941. Shortly after, World War II commenced, and he served in the Army Air Corps.
In the mid 1940s the family moved to Ontario, where Mr. Blankinship started his businesses, with service stations, oil distribution, tires and auto parts sales.
He was active in various veterans organizations and was a member of the Ontario Elks Lodge. He served on the Ontario school board and was board president for many years.
Mr. Blankinship is survived by his son and daughter-in-law, Ron and Cathy Blankinship of Baker City; his daughter, Pam Brown of West Richland, Wash.; his brother and sister-in-law, Darrell and Pat Perry of The Dalles; his sister and brother-in-law, Sue and Darrell Brown of La Grande; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Mr. Blankinship was preceded in death by his wife, Lela; his parents; his stepfather, Merle Perry; a brother, Harold Blankinship; and his sisters, Louise Hixson, Norma Davis and Velma Blankinship.
Memorial contributions may be made to the charity of one’s choice in care of the Coles-Strommer Funeral Home, 1950 Place St., Baker City, Ore., 97814.
Used with permission from: The Baker City Herald, Baker City, Oregon, August 22, 2001
Transcribed by: Belva Ticknor