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LILA BLANKENSHIP

Lila Lee WilkinsonBlankenship, 89, of Wheeling, died peacefully on Saturday, October 22, 2016, at home.

She was born March 27, 1927, in Wheeling, the daughter of the late James and Mary Dailer Wilkinson.

Lila was a graduate from Wheeling High School, Class of 1946. She retired from the special education department with Ohio County Schools, where she was a teachers aid from 1973 to 1989.

She served as community service regional chairman for Ohio County Schools, and a member of the Ohio County School Employee Association.

Throughout her life, she served as a youth director and Sunday school leader at various United Methodist Churches, a member of Ruble United Methodist Church and a member and former officer of the United Methodist Women.

She was involved with the Girl Scouts for over 30 years, enjoyed keeping in touch on Facebook,   attending all of her grandchildren’s sporting, academic, and artistic events, and cheering whole heartedly for the Pirates, Steelers, Penguins, WVU, Penn State, Pitt, Ohio State, Georgia, Point Park University, WPHS, and her alma mater, Wheeling High.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Rev. J. Robert “Bob” Blankenship, in 2005; three brothers, Staff Sgt. Harold “Craig,” John, and Ralph Wilkinson.

Survivors include her two daughters, Beth (Scott) Sands of South Pointe, PA, and Lori (Mike) Mathieu of Bethlehem; two sons, Craig (Carol) Blankenship of Enterprise, WV, and Dwight (Allison) Blankenship of Columbus, OH;  two brothers, Sonny (Leona) Wilkinson of Wheeling, and Jimmy (Fran) Wilkinson of Warwood; two sisters, Betty Lou Leech of Wheeling, and Suzanne Quinn of Warwood; 11 grandchildren, Jennifer, Abby, Amy and Jonathan (Ashley) Mathieu, Jeremiah (Dorielle) and Simeon (Laurie) Blankenship, Rebecca (Mike) Pamer and their mother, Darlene Ary, Josh Blankenship, Ezra, Jubal and Lillyah Blankenship; and two step-grandchildren, Erin Leonard and  Bob Pearson; six great-grandchildren, Lila, Caraline, Jude, and Margaret Pamer, Adalyn and Josephine Blankenship; and numerous nieces and nephews.

The family will receive friends on Tuesday from 2-4 & 6-8 p.m. at the Grisell Funeral Home & Crematory, 1 Ridgecrest Road, Wheeling/Bethlehem, where funeral services will be held on Wednesday at 1 p.m. with Rev. Craig Blankenship officiating.

Interment in Greenwood Cemetery, Wheeling.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Ruble United Methodist Church, 37 Ruby Ave., Wheeling, WV 26003.

Sympathy expression at grisellfuneralhomes.com.