Ronald (Ron) Vaughn Blankenship, Sr., 63, of Hot Springs AR passed away July 16, 2009 at St. Joseph’s Mercy Hospital. He was born August 21, 1945 in Clebit, OK. Ron grew up in Bunkie, LA. He served his country in the US Air Force from 1967 to 1971 when he returned to college and graduated from LSU in 1972. He lived his adult professional life in Pineville, LA retiring from Central Louisiana Electric, Co in 2001. He was an avid Fighting Tigers fan and a Cajun at heart. His greatest joy was cooking for his buddies and his dog Pepper.

His survivors include his wife of 43 yrs, Dianne Muehl Blankenship; two sons, Ronald Jr. and Dave; four grandchildren, Kaci, Jake, Nicole and Emily; one brother Lynn Blankenship and wife Sheila of Denham Springs, LA; one sister Cindy Landry and husband Patrick of Baton Rouge, LA. He is also survived by sisters-in-law, Iris Muehl, JoAnn Barbat (Paxton), Mary Hicks (Tony), Deborah Muehl, Kathleen Smith (Bob), Renee' Duncan (Danny), Christine Adams (Darren); and 18 nieces and nephews.

Ron was preceded in death by his mother and father, Gene and CV (Blank) Blankenship of Bunkie, LA, and his nephew, Patrick Vaughn Landry of Houston.

A Memorial Service will be held at Diamondhead Community Church Friday July 24th at 4:00 PM. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to Humane Society of Garland County – PO Box 1484 – Hot Springs, Arkansas 71902.

The family would like to express our heartfelt thanks to the nurses and staff in the CCU at St Joseph’s and Arkansas Hospice.