Zuni-Earl Dewey Blankenship, Jr, 70, passed away October 5, 2016 at his home. Earl was a native of Franklin and was a son of the late Earl D. Blankenship, Sr. and Eugenia Scott Blankenship. He was also predeceased by a sister, Kathleen Magazo and a brother, Billy Blankenship.

He was a retired Staff Sgt. with twenty two years of service with the Virginia Army National Guard. He had retired from Hercules Inc. and retired as the Regional District Manager for the Richmond Times Dispatch. In more recent years, Earl had been employed by WLQM radio station in Franklin as an advertising representative. Earl was a member of Harvest Christian Fellowship, Sons of the Confederacy and a former member of the Hunterdale Ruritan Club and the Franklin Jaycees.

Survivors include his wife, Renee Antieau Blankenship, two daughters, Dayna Burton (Rick) of Franklin and Dara Epperly (Brent) of Charlottesville, one son, Earl D. "Tre" Blankenship, III (Karen) of Richmond, six grandchildren, Cole Barnette, Reagan Epperly, Carter Epperly, Ayden, Ashlynn and Landon Blankenship, Renee's children, Bekah Shell (James) ,Matthew Nowinski (Anne) all of Virginia Beach and Luke Young (Jamie) of TX, Renee's five grandchildren, Vivianne Shell, Asher and Blake Nowinski, Kaitlyn and Ember Young and nieces, nephews and cousins.

A funeral will be conducted at 1PM Tuesday, October 11, 2016 at Wright Funeral Home, Franklin with Rev. Randy Wright officiating. The burial with Military Honors will be at 3pm at Albert G. Horton, Jr Memorial Veterans Cemetery, Suffolk. The family will receive friends Monday from 6 to 8PM at the funeral home and suggests that memorial donations be made to the Multiple System Atrophy Coalition, 9935-D Rea Rd. No. 212, Charlotte, NC 28277 (866-737-5999). www.wrightfuneralhome.org