Alda B. Blankenship

Alda B. Blankenship, 94, formerly of Ringgold, GA, died on April 18, 2007 in Nassawadox, VA. She was born in Flat Rock, AL on March 6, 1913. Prior to moving to Virginia to be near her daughter, she lived most of her life in and around the Chattanooga, TN and Ringgold, GA area. She was preceded in death by her husband of 63 years, Charles Lee Blankenship. She was a member of Ringgold First Baptist Church and Deborah Sunday School Class, which she helped organize in 1962 and taught for 11 years. She was also a member of the PTA for most of her adult life and also a life member and past president of the Catoosa County Council of PTA. At the age of 62, she started art lessons and enjoyed oil paintings until the age of 87. She was a member of the Civic Art League and Regional Art Alliance of Chattanooga. Her husband, Charles; daughter, Betty Shelby; son, Charles (Tommy) Blankenship; grandson, Barry Shelby; brothers, Clark Byers and Alva Byers; sisters, Dolly Smith and Isabel Fox preceded her in death. She is survived by a daughter and son-in-law, Dianne and Wilson Leggett of Cape Charles,VA, and brother, Robert "Kay" Wilson of Chattanooga, TN; son-in-law, Jack Shelby of Lafayette, GA; daughter-in-law, Bobbye Blankenship of Ringgold, GA. She is also survived by seven granddaughters, Teresa (Shelby) Johnston, Lori Shelby, Lisa (Blankenship) Prutsman, Sara (Blankenship) Gilliam, Gina (Blankenship) Duva, Renee Gattis, Michelle (Gattis) Lovatt and 10 great-grandchildren, several nieces and nephews and three special friends, Katie & Darby Moraitakis and Anne Smitherman who she fondly referred to as her ‘adopted' granddaughters. Family will receive friends on Saturday, April 28, 2007 from 11:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Wilson Funeral Home in Ringgold, GA with the funeral at 2:00 p.m. in the Stewart-Wallis Chapel of the Wilson Funeral Home. Rev. Bruce Sloan will officiate. Burial will follow in Anderson Memorial Garden. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be given to the Ringgold First Baptist Library Fund, 7611 Nashville St., Ringgold GA 30736, or Heritage Hall Activity Fund Department, PO Box 176, Nassawadox, VA 23413. Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.doughtyfuneralhome.com Arrangements made by Wilkins-Doughty Funeral Home, Cape Charles.