Grundy, VA- Lona Blankenship, age 83 of Little Prater Road, passed away Sunday, May 5, 2019 at her home. Born in Buchanan County, she was a daughter of the late Bart and Josie Owens Deel. She was a homemaker and was of the Old Regular Baptist faith. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Joshua Blankenship, brothers, Arthur, Cornelius, Herbert, Harold, James and Andy Deel, sisters, Lydia Margaret O’Quinn, Martha Rife and Birchie Fuller and a granddaughter, Kadance Smith.
Survivors include two daughters, Darlene Burkes and Renetta (James) Jones both of Grundy, grandchildren, Christopher James (Jessie) Burkes, Deborah (David) Smith, Donna (John) Skeens and great-grandchildren, Joshua Burkes, Kassidy Smith, Kristen Smith, Jasmin Smith and Alexis Burkes, great-great granddaughter, Stella O’Quin and a sister, Elva (David) Dales of Greensprings, OH.
Funeral services will be conducted at 11:00 a.m. Thursday, May 9, 2019 at Little David Old Regular Baptist Church with Elders Frank Newsome, David O’Quinn and Eddie Newsome officiating. Burial will follow in Bart Deel Cemetery, Haysi, VA. Pallbearers will be Chris O’quin, James Jones, Joshua Burkes, David Smith, John Skeens, Kassidy Smith, Chris Burkes and Harold Wyatt. Honorary pallbearers will be Mercy Ambulance,Family Care Center and Virginia Medical and Respiratory. The family will receive friends after 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday and Wednesday at the church with an evening service each night at 7:00 p.m.