Obituary of Homer Hudson Blankenship

Homer Hudson Blankenship was born March 29, 1929 in Lafayette, TN and died February 14, 2015, a month before his 86th Birthday. Meeting him in Heaven were; his mother, Edna Hudson Blankenship and his father, J.E. Blankenship, Sr., or as he often called his dad, Mr. Earl. His brothers and sisters also preceded him in death including, Elizabeth Blankenship, Irma Blankenship Dallas, Harold Gordon Blankenship and J.E. "Jesse" Blankenship, Jr. Homer was born and grew up in the Galen Community of Macon County. He was a member of Antioch Missionary Baptist Church in Galen and was baptized in about 1956. Homer joined the United States Navy on October 2, 1950 and served until July 27, 1954. After an honorable discharge from the Navy, Homer returned to Lafayette and worked at Tri-County Electric until May 1960. Homer then followed in his father's footsteps and began working for the U.S. Postal Service. He retired in 1986 having served as the carrier of rural route 2 for twenty-six years. Surviving is his loving wife, Philena Jouett Blankenship whom he married sixty years ago on November 24, 1954. They had one daughter and son-in-law, Kitty Leann and Eric Christian Ruf. Homer loved Eric like a son. Eric and Leann had Homer's only two grandchildren, who he loved so much, Jessic Emilia Ruf and Collie Christian Ruf. Homer was so very proud of their accomplishments. Homer is also survived by, brother-in-law and sisters-in-law, Louis and Judy Jouett and Mildred Arney, nieces, Margaret Dotson, Beth Fryman, Stephanic Pedigo, Emily Courtney, and Ashley Arney, and nephews, Steve Blankenship, Kevin Blankenship, Craig Blankenship, Chris Dotson, Ken Arney, Lowell Arney, John Jouett, and James Jouett. Homer also had several special grand-nieces and grand-nephews including Hudson Courtney, who was named after him. Homer's favorite things were golf and UT football. He served as the golf coach at Macon County High School for ten years, where he met many fine young men who continued to be special friends of his throughout his life. He also was president of the Macon County Golf Club for ten years. From 1964 until 2013, Homer attended forty nine years of UT football games. He only missed one home game during that time and traveled across the country to see the VOLS play in many cities including, Houston, Jacksonville, Tampa, New York, Los Angeles, and all SEC campuses. Homer will be missed by many friends and family. Funeral services were conducted Saturday at 1 pm. from the Alexander Funeral Home with Bobby Sircy and Barry Doss officiating. Interment followed in the Macon County Memorial Gardens. Alexander Funeral Home, Directors, in charge of arrangements. (615)666-2189 or www.alexanderfh.com