Blankenship, Cecil Carl

Cecil “Carl” Blankenship passed away at his Anchorage, Alaska, home on Monday, November 1, 2010 He was born to Cecil Carr Blankenship and Clara Josephine Bouldin. Carl graduated from Narrows High School, June of 1963, where he lettered in track.

Carl joined the Army in 1963 and was stationed at Ft. Richardson, Alaska, 10 days before the Good Friday quake of 1964. He and his wife of 45 years met on New Year’s Day 1965 and married on May 15, 1965. He left for Viet Nam in January of 1966 and came home in September of 1966. Carl was very proud to be a member of the 60th Infantry “Go Devil,” a 4/23 Infantry Tomahawk and the 25th Infantry Division Tropic Lighting. He received the following medals, Viet Nam Service Medal with one bronze star National Defense Service Medal, Combat Infantry Badge, Republic of Vietnam Campaign ribbon, and Republic of Viet Nam Gallantry Cross w/Palm Unit Citation. Carl was a active member of the American Legion at Muldoon Post 29. He was SAL Commander and Department Commander’s Aide. During their life together Carl and Marge lived in Virginia and Seward. They moved to Anchorage in 2001.

Carl was preceded in death by his son, Carl Edward; his father, Cecil Carr Blankenship; and a baby sister. He is survived by his loving wife of 45 years, Marge; son, Christopher (Melodie) Blankenship; daughter, Linda; her daughter, Jessica; and Carl Edward’s daughter, Alexis, all of Anchorage; his mother, Josephine; and sister, Diane (Richard) Young, of Dublin Va., sisters, Faye (Richard) Perdue, of Pearisburg, Va., and Jenny (Tony) Pennington, of Narrows, Va.; brothers, Richard M. of Rich Creek, Va., and Scott of North Carolina; and his mother-in-law, Dolores Ferguson, Silverton, Ore.

A celebration of life will be held at the American Legion Muldoon Post 29, 1467 Muldoon Road, Anchorage, Alaska 99504, 2 p.m. on Sunday, November 7, 2010.

Remembrances may be made to the Boys State Program, American Legion Department of Alaska, 1550 Charter Circle, Anchorage, Alaska 99508.