Eloise Chandler Blankenship

Leicester Eloise Chandler Blankenship, of 1114 Gouges Branch Road, passed away Sunday, September 6, 2009 at the Memorial Campus of Mission Hospitals. A native of Madison County, she resided in Buncombe County most of her life. She was employed for over 23 years with Square D and was a member of Zion Hill Baptist Church. Mrs. Blankenship was the daughter of the late William Nelson and Ollie Melissa Jarvis Chandler. She was also preceded in death by a sister, Irene Chandler Miller; brother, Earl Chandler; sister-in-law, Venita Blankenship; and brothers-in-law, Charles Edward Phillips and J.M. Whitehead. Surviving are her loving and caring husband of 43 years, Charles Zeke Blankenship, whom she married in March, 1966, of the home; two sisters: Shelby Jean Phillips and Linda Maynor and husband Wade, all of Weaverville; brother, Ray Chandler and wife Norma of Weaverville; brothers-in-law: James Miller of Swannanoa, Garrett Blankenship and wife Norma Jean of Marshall, and Carl Blankenship of Burnsville; sisters-in-law: Betty Chandler of Asheville, Bernice McMahan and husband Jim of Mars Hill, Maxine Scott and husband Frank of Bakersville, and Kathleen Whitehead of Burnsville; and a number of nieces and nephews. Funeral services will be held at 2 PM Wednesday at Zion Hill Baptist Church, with the Rev. Bobby Smith and Rev. Ebb Jenkins officiating. Burial will follow in Zion Hill Baptist Church Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 7-9 PM Tuesday at Anders-Rice Funeral Home and Cremation Center. Memorial donations may be made to Zion Hill Baptist Church, 1008 Newfound Road, Leicester, NC 28748.