Noel Gene Blankenship was born July 9, 1932. His parents, E.C. and Montie Blankenship preceded him in death. On December 23, 1952, he married Marjorie Bateman. Noel and Marjorie had two daughters, Vickie and Debbie. Debbie died just before her third birthday. Noel served in the United States Army and was stationed in Fairbanks, Alaska. He was retired from Springfield City Utilities where he worked many years. He became a Christian at a young age and was a charter member and deacon of South Haven Baptist Church. He also served as chairman of deacons for several years and also chairman of the church building committee. Noel was great at woodworking and also construction. After going on South Haven’s first church building trip to Vermont in 1980, he became one of the leaders of the church’s building trips. This group has built churches in at least a dozen states, returning to some states several times to build a house of worship where needed.
Those that will mourn his passing – his faithful wife, Marjorie, his daughter Vickie who is married to Pastor Mark Killingsworth, and his five grandchildren: Aaron, Sean and his wife, Shaunda; Ashley Andrews and her husband, Brandon; Kurt and his wife, Katie; and Brett. Also surviving are six great-grandchildren, Kaedance and Kye Killingsworth and Nora and Lawson Andrews. Nolan Kale, his namesake, will be born in February, and another great-grandchild will be born in July. Also surviving are a sister, Laudean Cantrell of California; brother, Ronald Blankenship of Marshfield and his twin brother, Lowell Blankenship of Bolivar, MO. No formal visitation is planned, but visitors may stop by Greenlawn South Funeral Home on Wednesday, January 23. A funeral service will be held at South Haven Baptist Church on Thursday, January 24 at 10:00. Burial will follow the service at Marshfield Cemetery.