Roger Lee Blankenship, 75, son of Albert “Joe” and Mable Smith Blankenship, was born Feb. 8, 1933, at Solo. He died March 21, 2008, at Lester E. Cox Medical Center South at Springfield.
He grew up in Houston, where he graduated in 1951. He was baptized at the First Baptist Church in Houston June 21, 1942.
He enlisted in the Army March 25, 1953, serving in Korea as a master sergeant. He was honorably discharged March 24, 1955.
Mr. Blankenship was a construction engineer. He worked for Perini Corp. in Framingham, Mass., and for Fluor Corp. in Ervin, Calif., specializing in dams, pipelines and runways operated in Aboudhabi, Saudi Arabia, Africa, India and Alaska.
He was preceded in death by his parents and a brother, Rex.
Surviving are his wife of 42 years, Betty Stouse Blankenship of the home; and a brother, Connie Joe Blankenship of Houston.
Memorial services are 2 o’clock today (Thursday) at the Evans Funeral Home Chapel with Billy Walker officiating. The body was cremated under the direction of Evans Funeral Home.
