2010-2019, AK, Compiled by James W. Blankenship jkblank1(at)sbcglobal.net

 

Anchorage                                                                                                        

 

+2010, Anchorage, Anchorage Borough, AK, Obituary

From the Anchorage Daily News , from March 12 to March 14, 2010

Air Force Maj. Ralph Anderson Blankenship (Ret.) died on his birthday, Jan. 10, 2010, at the age of 94 in an assisted living home in Anchorage. Mr. Blankenship was born Jan. 10, 1916, in Braggs, Okla., to Turner and Ethel Blankenship. He attended two years of agriculture college in Oklahoma and joined the Army in 1937. Ralph married Ruth Estelle Knight in 1940. During World War II, he transferred to the Air Corps and served in North Africa and Italy, retiring in California in 1957. He moved his wife and four children to Alaska in 1958 and filed on the 160-acre Montana Creek homestead in 1959. The patent was obtained in 1962. The family's four children gave the community enough students to get a school built at Montana Creek in 1959. His oldest son was among the first graduating class at Talkeetna High School in 1965. He had many interests and activities. Among those were his family, friends and pets. He enjoyed gardening, hunting, fishing, four-wheeling and snowmachining.  "Dad wanted to be remembered in life and not in death by his family and friends," his family wrote. "His feelings were, 'I won't be here, so I won't matter.' "

He is survived by his eldest son, John Doyle of Allyn, Wash.; son, Damond Allen of Anchorage; daughter, Carol Sue "Susie" Soelling of Steilacoom, Wash.; six grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his son, Edward in 1972; wife, Ruth Estelle in 1992; and second wife of 10 years, Francis Jean in 2004. His ashes will be scattered about Montana Creek in the future.

From: Diane Renfrow dhrenfrow(at)yahoo.com

 

+2010, Anchorage, Anchorage Municipality, AK, Obituary

Anchorage Daily News (AK) - November 5, 2010

Cecil "Carl" Blankenship, 67, died at his Anchorage home on Nov. 1, 2010. A celebration of life will be at 2 p.m. Sunday at American Legion Post 29 on Muldoon Road. Born Dec. 19, 1942, in Kimberling, Va., to Cecil Carr Blankenship and Clara Josephine Bouldin,

Carl was one of eight siblings. After attending Narrows High School, where he received a letter in track, Carl joined the military and moved to Alaska just a couple of months before the Good Friday earthquake of 1964. Walking down the street one day, he turned the corner, where he literally bumped into the love of his life, Marge. Married on May 15, 1965, Carl was soon shipping off to Vietnam. After a successful tour of duty, Carl returned home to his wife and soon they became parents to two sons and a daughter. Carl and his young family moved to Virginia, where they lived until returning to Alaska, settling in Seward in 1983. Carl and his family moved to Anchorage in 2001. Carl was very proud to be a 60th Infantry "Go Devil" and a 4/23 Infantry "Tomahawk" and a member of the 25th Infantry Division "Tropic Lightning." Carl was a proud member of the American Legion and very active at Muldoon Post 29.

Carl was preceded in death by his son, Carl Edward Blankenship; his father, Cecil Carr Blankenship; and a baby sister.

He is survived by his wife of 45 years, Marge; son, Christopher (Melodie) Blankenship; daughter, Linda and granddaughter, Jessica; daughter-in-law, Samantha and granddaughter, Alexis, all of Anchorage; mother, Josephine of Dublin, Va.; sisters, Faye (Richard) Perdue, Diane (Richard) Young, Joyce (Archie) Minton, and Jenny (Tony) Pennington; brothers, Richard and Scott Blankenship, all of the Dublin and surrounding areas; and mother-in-law, Dolores Ferguson of Silverdale, Ore.

From: Diane Renfrow dhrenfrow(at)yahoo.com

 

2011, Anchorage, Anchorage Borough, AK, Obituary

Anchorage Daily News (AK) - October 11, 2011

Anchorage resident Donald Andrew Harper, 81, passed away on October 7, 2011. A service will take place Thursday, October 13, 2011 at 1:00 p.m. at All Saints Episcopal Church; 545 West 8th Avenue, Anchorage, AK. Jim Bassinger will be the officiant. Pallbearers will include Michael Harper, Ray Caudill, Richard Fast, Michael Blankenship, Dana Wright, and Steven Harris. In accordance with Donald's wishes, his ashes will be scattered between Fairbanks and Anchorage along the highway, as he was a free spirit who loved to travel.

Donald was born on June 25, 1930 in Fairbanks, Alaska. He graduated from Mt. Edgecumbe High School and attended school for electricians in Chicago for two years, later going back to college at age 68. Donald served in the United States Army during the Korean War. Donald was a member of IBEW Local 1547, an electrician, and was retired from working for BP. Donald was a member of the All Saints Episcopal Church and liked to go to Tuesday night Bible Study. He received an award on behalf of his uncle Walter Harper, who was the first person to ascend Denali. He also served three years on CIRI Shareholder Participation Committee. He volunteered at the Alaska Native Medical Center's IT Department. Donald loved to take car rides and make trips to Las Vegas, NV, San Francisco, CA and to Georgia to visit his sister Toots (Mary). Donald enjoyed driving the Alcan and across the lower 48. Donald loved to walk downtown (Anchorage) to stay fit and in touch with people.

Donald is survived by his daughter and son-in-law Robin A. Harper-Caudill and Ray L. Cauldill of Unalakleet and Anchorage; granddaughter Dawn Blankenship and significant other Steve Harris; great grandchildren Michael Blankenship of Unalakleet, Malorie Blankenship, Kevin Blankenship, and Steven and Alex Harris all of Anchorage; sister and brother-in-law Mary (Toots) and Ashley Benson of Bickley, Georgia; and many nieces and nephews all of whom he loved dearly.

Donald is preceded in death by his parents Sam and Louise Harper; brothers Art, Francis, John, and Walter Harper; and sisters Jane Petri, Elsie Fast, Louise (Wece) Blair, and Connie Paddock.

From: Diane Renfrow dhrenfrow(at)yahoo.com

 

2012, Anchorage, Anchorage Borough, AK, Obituary

Published in adn.com (Anchorage Daily News) from August 29 to August 30, 2012

Rose Vanderpool Winkelman, 92, passed away peacefully, surrounded by her family, Sunday, August 26, in Anchorage.

Services will be held at 4 p.m. Wednesday, August 29, at Alaskan Heritage Memorial Chapel, 440 East Klatt Road in Anchorage. A light buffet will follow the service at the funeral home.

A second service will be held in McGrath, Friday, August 31 at 2 p.m. at McGrath School. Burial will follow at the McGrath Cemetery. A potlatch will be held at the school following the burial.

Rose was the fourth of 10 children born to William T. and Sophie Vanderpool on April 29, 1920, at the Vanderpool Homestead near McGrath. At 14, she moved to Seward and attended Jesse Lee Home boarding school. Rose completed 10th grade and returned to McGrath in 1942.

Rose kept busy raising her children, gardening, cooking, baking, berry picking, and preserving food. Her heart and her home were always open to everyone. Her beautiful smile, her laugh, and warm demeanor welcomed friends and strangers, alike. She also took in many boarding students over the years. Rose stayed in and kept the "home fires burning", while the boys were out flying, hunting, and fishing. She was truly the "wind beneath our wings".

In 1968, her husband Wink passed away, and she became a single parent to her five youngest children. Soon after, she became the community health aide in McGrath, a position she held until retiring in 1985. Rose will be remembered for compassionate, caring treatment of all her patients. In 2011, the new McGrath Health Clinic was named in her honor. Rose was the matriarch of her family and a loving, caring mother to nine children, 21 grandchildren and 40+ great-grandchildren. In 1994, she was selected by Doyon as Parent of the Year. Rose served as an original board member for MTNT limited, and on the McGrath Native Village Council, and various health-related boards. In retirement she continued to stay "busy as a bee". She enjoyed traveling, but, what she enjoyed most, was having family and friends visit. Moose-hunting season, especially, welcomed everyone with a "roadhouse-like" atmosphere at mom's home.

Rose was preceded in death by her parents William T. and Sophie Vanderpool; husband Aden (Wink) Winkelman; brothers Woodrow, Robert, and Lewis (Buster) Vanderpool; sisters Nora Vanderpool and Alice Acheff; daughter Gloria Hall; daughter-in-law Louise Winkelman, and grandchildren Timothy Hughes and David Maffei.

She is survived by her sisters Avis Dunkin and Sophie Blankenship; brothers Joe and Roy Vanderpool; sons David (Judith) Hughes, Richard Winkelman, Ron (Carolyn) Winkelman, Bob (Elizabeth) Winkelman, Don (Veronica) Winkelman, Jerry (Kathleen) Winkelman; daughters Rose High Bear and Marge Winkelman; grandchildren James, David Jr., Guy John, and Tish Hughes, Gene, Kimberly, Angela Maffei, Mary Echternacht, Ron, Debbie, and Dan Winkelman, Onessia Elliott, Allen Winkelman, Sheri Forsgren Roseman, Kyle and Aden Winkelman, Mikel and Amanda Winkelman, Kimberli Gover, Casey and Gillian Winkelman and 40+ great grandchildren.

From: Diane Renfrow dhrenfrow(at)yahoo.com

 

Anchorage Co., SSDI, http://ssdi.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/ssdi.cgi ,

Blankenship, Cecil C.        67, 19Dec1942 - 01Nov2010,          Anchorage, Anchorage, AK,               VA-226-58-8046

Blankenship, Ralph A.       94, 10Jan1916 - 10Jan2010,            Anchorage, Anchorage, AK,               TX-467-07-3643

 

Fairbanks North Star                                                                                      

 

2013, Fairbanks, Fairbanks North Star Borough, AK,

Fairbanks Daily News-Miner (AK) - May 3, 2013

Plea hearing set for Fairbanks man charged for fatally injuring 2-year-old Jacob Williams

A plea agreement hearing has been scheduled for the Fairbanks man accused of fatally injuring his girlfriend's 2-year-old son last spring in Fairbanks. Carl David Jr., 26, had been scheduled to go to trial this week on a charge of first-degree murder for the death of Jacob Williams in April 2012. Now, however, a hearing on a change of plea is scheduled for 2 p.m. today before Superior Court Judge Douglas Blankenship. Such a hearing is generally scheduled so a defendant can change a plea from "not guilty" to "guilty," often in exchange for a lesser sentence offered by prosecutors. Fairbanks police, who investigated the case, wrote in the charging document against David that he admitted seriously injuring Williams because he was upset with the boy for wetting the bed while taking a nap. Williams' injuries included a fractured skull with internal brain bleeding. He died two days later in an Anchorage hospital. Staff writer Sam Friedman.

From: Diane Renfrow dhrenfrow(at)yahoo.com

 

Juneau                                                                                                              

 

2011, Juneau Municipality, AK, Obituary

The Daily Sitka Sentinel, (AK) - July 27, 2011

Longtime Juneau resident and former Sitkan David Frederic Thomas Lihou Sr. died July 13 at home in Juneau, surrounded by his family and loved ones. He was 73. David was born April 21, 1938, to Thomas and Alice Lihou in Vancouver, British Columbia.

After graduating from Langley High School in 1957, he left Canada and went to work for Washington Fish and Oyster in Port Williams, Alaska. From 1957 through 1959, he worked summers in Port Williams, and attended the College of San Mateo in San Mateo, Calif. He received his associate’s degree from the College of San Mateo and Seattle Pacific University. In 1960 he enlisted in the U.S. Army. For the majority of his military service, he was stationed in southern France, which he fondly referred to as the "Bordeaux Campaign". After completing his military service in 1964, he returned stateside to work for his uncle at Salvore Towing in Sitka, where he met Cecilia Margaret Jacoby. They were married June 3, 1967, in Seattle. They had two children, David and Mary, and enjoyed 44 devoted years of marriage, joy and much laughter. David attended the Seattle Technical Institute and subsequently received his professional marine radio telegraph operator license for ships from the U.S. Coast Guard. His first opportunity as a marine radio operator was for the Alaska Marine Highway System aboard the MV Wickersham. This later launched a long career as a professional marine radio operator for RCA which later became Alascom. During his lifetime David worked for the City of Sitka Public Works and State of Alaska DMV. A devoted husband, father, uncle, brother, and grandfather,

David is survived by his wife Cecilia Lihou of Juneau; children David F. (Sharon) Lihou Jr. of New Port, Wash., and Mary Lihou of Washington, D.C.; four grandchildren, Allison and Olivia Lihou, and Cassie and Sophia Lihou; his brother Robert (Bob) Lihou of Sitka; his sister in-law and Godmother Bernadette Blankenship; his brothers-in-law Paul, Robert and David Jacoby; his nieces Laura Duval, Jessica Blankenship and Cecilia Callender; and nephews Paul Blankenship and Rob Lihou; and numerous other nieces and nephews.

Funeral services were held July 19 at the Cathedral of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Juneau. He will be laid to rest 1 p.m. Friday, July 29, at Sitka National Cemetery, with Father Blaney of St. Gregory's Catholic Church officiating

From: Diane Renfrow dhrenfrow(at)yahoo.com

 

Sitka                                                                                                                  

 

+2012, Sitka, Baranof Island, Sitka Borough AK, Obituary

The Daily Sitka Sentinel, (AK) - May 25, 2012

Longtime resident Rose K. Marvin passed away May 19 at the Sitka Pioneers Home, where she has resided for the past 10 years. She was 98. She was born Jan. 20, 1914, in Sheridan, Ore., the youngest of six children of Hungarian emigrants.

In 1932 she married Welland "Jack" Blankenship. They had two sons, Vaughn and Dan. They resided in Oregon and Washington until 1946, when they moved their family to Alaska, cruising north in a 30-foot wooden boat. They settled first in Security Bay, then Petersburg before moving here. At the age of 9, Rose made her first "shiny dime," helping her dad and crew cut grass away from railroad tracks near their home in Oregon. She worked as a seamstress at the Bremerton Navy yard during World War II; was employed at Mt. Edgecumbe Public Health Service Hospital as a seamstress, and as a nurse in the tuberculosis ward. She also worked as a payroll clerk. Rose and Kenneth Marvin were married in 1955, and eventually made Sitka their home. She enjoyed gardening, raising chickens and rabbits, sewing, cooking, reading, and spending time with her family and friends. She was instrumental in starting rural mail delivery in Sitka, promoting healthier school lunch menus, and pushing for full-spectrum lighting in classrooms. Rose was passionate about natural wellness, homeopathy and good health. The sign on her door at the Pioneers Home read: "Ancient Hungarian Artifact. Handle With Care."

Rose was preceded in death by her siblings, husbands Jack and Kenneth, and grandsons Kenneth and Robert Blankenship.

Surviving are her sons, Vaughn (Marian) Blankenship and Dan (Margie) Blankenship all of Sitka; six grandchildren; 18 great-grandchildren; and 24 great-great-grandchildren.

Rose requested no funeral service be held, and that her ashes be spread in Sitka Sound.

From: Diane Renfrow dhrenfrow(at)yahoo.com