THOMASVILLE —

Services for Albert Young Blankenship, 90 of Thomasville are at 11 a.m., Friday, March 22, 2013 at Dawson Street Baptist Church. The Rev. Lee Waller will officiate and interment is in Laurel Hill Cemetery. Mr. Blankenship passed away March 18 at Golden Living Center. Born March 24, 1922 in Campbelton, Texas, he was the son of the late Sidney Blankenship and Amanda Elizabeth Judd Blankenship. On June 5, 1948 in Waco, Texas he married Mary Christine Gee Blankenship who preceded him in death in 2007. He graduated from Texas A&M University with a bachelor's degree in animal husbandry, a master's in genetics and animal production and belonged to the Alpha Zeta Agricultural Honor Society. Mr. Blankenship was a World War II veteran of the U.S. Navy where he served as a Radioman First Class on Patrol Craft 783 and the USS Highlands APA119 in the Battle of Iwo Jima and Okinawa, serving for three years from October 1942 to November 1945. He worked with Santa Gertrudis cattle for over 35 years and won several grand and reserve grand championships on the show circuit. He had the highest selling bull and female at several sales and won first place for herdsman neatness award five times. He served as assistant county agent in charge of 4-H programs in Sulpher Springs, Texas (2years); herdsman at Texas A&M (2 years); was manager at Belmeade Stock Farm (2 years); was foreman at Seven Eleven Ranches (14 years) and manager at Winnstead Plantation (18 years); he was a member of the Georgia Cattle Association and was a member of the Thomas County Livestock Association. Mr. Blankenship was a member and past deacon at Dawson Street Baptist Church. He is survived by sons, Bruce Blankenship and wife Teresa of Thomasville and Charles Blankenship and wife Cyndi of Canton, N.C.; grandchildren, Matthew Blankenship, Steven Blankenship and fiance Sara Stephens, Rory McClure and RJ McClure; great-grandchildren, Britton Blankenship and Porter Blankenship; brothers, Lytle Blankenship and wife Margaret of Kerrville, Texas, and Merlin Blankenship of Jacksonville, N.C.; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. He was preceded in death by seven brothers and six sisters. The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m., Thursday at the funeral home. Guests are invited to sign the online register at www.allenfh.com. — Allen & Allen Funeral Home