Jane Newton Blankenship

Jane Newton Blankenship, 91, longtime resident of Moscow, Ark., died Jan. 10, 2013. Born at home near Cornerville in Lincoln County, Ark., March 25, 1921, daughter of the late Albert Harvey and Winnie Johnson Newton, she grew up in Lincoln County, graduating from Star City High School and West Point (Georgia) Business College. As a young woman she worked for the Agricultural Adjustment Administration before marrying William Porter "Bill" Blankenship Dec. 20, 1940, in Pine Bluff. She moved to join her husband in Moscow and resided there most of her life. Mr. Blankenship died Feb. 13, 2010. Mrs. Blankenship was actively involved in her community. She was a member of Grady United Methodist Church where she served as an adult coordinator of the Methodist Youth Fellowship and on the parsonage building committee. She was an adult leader for the Linwood 4-H Club, a Jefferson County Tuberculosis Association (American Lung Association) volunteer, and a volunteer and officer for the Linwood School PTA. Survivors include three sons, William P. "Bill" Blankenship, Jr. (Sharon) of Pine Bluff, Ronald Blankenship (Joy) of Pine Bluff, Donald Blankenship of Moscow; her daughter, Jan Harris (John) of Nacogdoches, Texas; grandchildren, Mary Elizabeth Walter (Alan) of Paragould, Ark., William Lee Blankenship of Pine Bluff, Kimberly Kay Sardin (Bill) of Brookland, Ark., Andrew Bond Blankenship (Ginny) of Little Rock, Benjamin Ramsay Blankenship (Betsy) of Little Rock, Katherine Blankenship of Little Rock, John William "Bill" Harris (Heather) of Douglass, Texas, Mary Jane McClendon (Levi) of Austin, Texas; seven great-grandchildren; and a sister, Dorothy Miller of Hot Springs. Three brothers, Albert Harvey Newton Jr., Alfred Johnson Newton, William Glen Newton, and a sister, Tabitha Nell Newton Langley also died before her. She always made the comment, "Isn't this pleasant?" whenever her family gathered together. Surely she is saying the same thing as she is welcomed by her heavenly father. Services are Monday at 2 p.m., Ralph Robinson & Son Chapel in Pine Bluff. Interment is in Newton Chapel Cemetery in Lincoln County. Visitation is Sunday from 5 to 7 p.m. at Robinson's. Memorials are requested to Grady United Methodist Church. Online register: www:ralphrobinsonandson.com.