Don was born in Rochester, Pennsylvania on October 20, 1956, a son of the late Charles and Edna Mae (Smith) Blankenship. Don worked as car salesman at Tad Motors and Buckman Chevrolet. He also worked security for SBI at the powerplant. He was very involved with Mountaineer Racetrack where he was a jockey’s agent and also owned and trained horses.
Don was a great person that would go out of his way to help others. Don was very involved in the local community serving on New Cumberland City Council, City of New Cumberland Park Board and president of the Oak Glen Football Boosters. He helped operate local businesses with his family, Donna’s Kitchen at the racetrack and Mae-meez Sub Shop. Don had an ornery streak and enjoyed having fun. He looked forward to hunting season and going to his hunting camp with his good friend Mike Baker. Don would take his son Donnie and grandson Lane every year to squirrel hunt in Gilmer County and deer hunt in Wetzel County. He also loved spending time and trading guns with his cousin Gary who he considered a brother. Don was a loving husband, father, grandfather and brother who enjoyed spending time with his family whom he loved dearly. He met the love of his life, Donna, at a restaurant at the former Waterford Park where she was working and although their first meeting wasn’t the most memorable. They would end up getting married on July 9, 1982, in Seattle, Washington and spending 43 years together. Don and Donna were inseparable and enjoyed being with each other. Together they would have two children and eleven grandchildren. He was an incredible father and always made sure his children had everything they needed and more, but what made Don the happiest was being a pappy. He was known as the best pappy and especially liked spoiling his grandchildren. They could easily persuade him into getting them whatever they wanted.
Preceding Don in death were his brother Richard Blankenship and sister Ruthann Jolley.
Left to cherish his memory are his wife of 43 years Donna (Geisse) Blankenship; daughter DeMara Mercer and her husband Dustin; son Donnie Blankenship and his wife Christina; eleven grandchildren Anna and her husband Landon, Madalynn, Alexandra, Lane, Brayden, Barrett, Brexton, Kason, Cori, Hayli and Landin; sister Charlene Niblett; brother David Blankenship and his wife Christine and many nieces, nephews and friends.
Friends may visit Thursday at the Turley Funeral Home where the family will be present from 1 to 4 p.m. where a celebration of Don’s life will be held Thursday at 4 p.m. Private burial will be at New Cumberland Cemetery.
Immediately following the service the family will gather at the VFW in New Cumberland for a time of fellowship.
