The passing of Hank Blankenship

[RANDY TATMAN]

My heart sank when I read this. Hank was truly a friend to many.

[Keith 944]

very sad news. he will be truly missed. Hank was one of the best. condolences to his family. i don't think anyone that raced with ihra will forget him or Shirley. Godspeed my friend

[Dave1695]

Hank was one of the best, his will be a tough act to follow. Going to miss seeing him at the races.

[danny waters sr]

RIP my friend..........I worked with Hank at IHRA for over 14 years,.. He was instrumental in my knowledge of s/ss cars.....We used to check the qualifying sheets together to make sure class and indexes were right among a lot of other class things (tear downs and ect...).........A very good friend and mentor to say the least..............Lost for words and such a shock to here this sad news ... I was just around the corner talking to Hank in the pic Michael posted earlier..........Godspeed my friend.............................you will never be forgotten...

[dragracer2011]

Obituary for Gerald Hank Blankenship
Gerald Hank Blankenship, 61 years of age of the Lynn Camp section of Buchanan County, VA, passed away, Monday, January 7, 2013 at his residence. Born February 16, 1951, in McDowell County, WV, he was the son of the late Virgil Roy and Fay Fields Blankenship.

Gerald was a member of the Grundy Church of Christ, was an avid drag racer in which he had won numerous awards since 1967. He was currently employed by Car Quest in Hurley, VA and the IHRA-Internal Hot Rod Association as a Technical Director. He was a loving husband, father and grandfather.

Survivors include his wife Brenda Faye Baldwin Blankenship of the home; daughter, Kimberly Michelle Blankenship Dykes and husband Christopher Paul of Bristol, VA; sons, Anthony Leon Keen and wife Kayla of Piney Flats, TN, Wesley Ryan Keen and fiancé, Jessica Looney of Grundy, VA.

He is also survived by his grandson, Brantley Colton Dykes, and two step-granddaughters, Emma Grace Keen and Layla Faith Keen.

Funeral services for Gerald Hank Blankenship will be conducted at the Shortridge-Ramey Funeral Home Chapel in Grundy, VA, Friday, January 11, 2013 at 1:00 p.m. with Pastors Dennis Wimmer and Wade McGeorge officiating. Burial will follow at Mountain Valley Memorial Park, Big Rock, VA.

Active Pallbearers will be the Employees of Car Quest of Hurley, VA.

Honorary Pallbearers will be Anthony Keen, Ryan Keen, Junior Jackson, Christopher Paul Dykes, Chris Justus, Troy Viers and the Employees of IHRA-Internal Hot Rod Association.

The family will receive friends at the Shortridge-Ramey Funeral Home Chapel in Grundy, VA, Wednesday, January 9, 2013, after 6:00 p.m.

Evening services will be held Thursday evening at 7:00 p.m.

Online condolences may be viewed at www.shortridgeramey.com.

The family of Gerald Hank Blankenship have entrusted the care of their loved one to Shortridge-Ramey Funeral Home of Grundy, VA.

[Tony Curcio]

I made Mr. Blankenship's acquaintance in April 2010, when my brother set an IHRA record on the weekend of his 60th birthday. This is a picture of Hank congratulating Neal.

Hank knew it was a special day for us, and really was a true gentleman as many others have said here.

RIP

[BKSG1198]

Sad to hear the passing of yet another good guy!

I always remember Hank for when Atco Dragway used to be IHRA and they had the Summernationals one year (Maybe 1985 or 86 if I remember correctly). My Father broke a Transmission in Qualifying and we started the hunt for a spare Transmission all around the pits. We were gone for about an hour or so and we came back to the car and Shirley and Hank had the Transmission already pulled out of the car and laying on the ground. We had come back with the spare and in shear amazement and Hank looked at my Dad and was like "What are you waiting for, let's get this Transmission in".

RIP Hank

[Chris1529]

Hank truly will be missed. It was always great to see him working the races. I didn'tknow he was a Mountaineer.

[Britt1112]

So sorry to here about Hank. A class act and all around great guy! We will all miss u? RIP my friend! Britt Mizia