Dennis Blankenship

Rev. Dennis Darrel Blankenship, 87, of Decatur, IL, went to his Heavenly home Tuesday, November 13, 2018. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, November 17, at Tabernacle Baptist Church, Decatur, with visitation from 9:00 a.m. until service time, at the church. A graveside service will be held at 3:30 p.m. Saturday, at Randolph Township Cemetery, Heyworth, IL. Memorials in Rev. Dennis Blankenship’s honor may be made to Tabernacle Baptist Church, Dennis was born February 28, 1931, in Ramsey, IL, son of Kenneth and Edith (Holtcamp) Blankenship. He married Marian Seitz on November 22, 1953, in Decatur. Rev. Blankenship was a Southern Baptist Minister and was ordained on January 6, 1952, in Farmer City, IL. He was instrumental in starting Vale, Heyworth, and Springfield churches. He was a pastor in Beecher City, Heyworth, Farmer City, Girard, Springfield, Gillespie, Lincoln, and was senior adult pastor at Tabernacle Baptist Church. Rev. Blankenship is survived by his wife of 64 years, Marian of Decatur; children, Diane (Mike) Peterson of Heyworth, IL, Debra (Bob) Shannon of Heyworth, IL, Melody (Jeff) Roof of Atlanta, IL, and Mark (Pam) Blankenship of Springfield, IL; grandchildren, Heather (Troy) Smith, Heidi (Jason) Spaulding, Ben (Kim) Peterson, Bryan (Tiffany) Peterson, Brandon (Erica) Peterson, Miranda (Jason) Carl, Corey (Leah) Shannon, Nicole Shannon, Caleb Shannon, Rachel (Jeremy) Donaldson, Ryan (Vanessa) Roof, Erin (Dave) Edwards, and Logan Blankenship; great-grandchildren, Cody and Kinsey Durflinger, Keagan Smith, Braydon, Kage, Connor, and Reid Spaulding, Holt, Georgie, and Wick Peterson, Ava Brookshier, Faith and Liam Peterson, Tate, Jacob, Lukas, and Lilyan Carl, Naomi Shannon, Ragan Roof, Tessa, Baylee and Summer Donaldson, Rylan Hartter, Gavin and Lincoln Edwards; and brother, Norris (Linda) Blankenship of Fredericktown, MO.