The passing of Hank Blankenship

[Lew Silverman]

How very sad to learn of Hank's passing.

I truly looked forward to visiting with Hank at each of the IHRA races I attended. He always made me feel that he was glad that I was there competing. He was also very patient with me when I would eventually need some assistance, and he never lost his temper, not once! A wonderful guy who I will always miss. Rest in peace, Hank.

My condolences to the Blankenship Family.

Lew Silverman

[Emily Stott]

Hank was a wonderful friend and tech man. My daddy and Hank have so many great memories together. I always loved sitting around listening to them tell all their tales from years past. Hank will be truly missed! God Speed Buddy


Larry and Doris Stott
Mike and Emily Volkman

[Mike Taylor 3601]

The Shortridge and Ramey website shows friends can come after 6pm on 1/09/13 and after 7pm on 1/10/13 then funeral Friday 1/11/13 @ 1pm
Mike Taylor 3601

[Joe Bellardo]

Sad news, Hank was a true gentleman and will be missed

[John Dinkel]

What a swell man. They just don't get any better. He will be missed by all.

[Dan Fletcher]

So sad. Hank was such a great guy. RIP.

[442OLDS]

So sorry to hear of this news.Even though I haven't raced IHRA for a few years,I remember him as being one of,if not the best tech guys they had.

[mike withers]

Hank was a great guy and will be missed by all who knew him. RIP Hank.

[Larry Sullivan]

Originally Posted by Kegracing

GodSpeed Hank.
Hank and Shirley were two of the people that gave IHRA the "family feeling" that it had for years...
You will be missed.
Ken Graham and family

What he said ^^^^^

I usually got my chance to chat with Hank when there was a problem with the qualifying sheets or ladders at an IHRA event. It was a tossup which of us would get to the race director first - I was usually closer, but Hank always carefully checked the sheets and was often in race control before I got there.

Godspeed, Hank, it won't be the same without you.

[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.