William T. “Bill” Blankenship Jr., 80, Clinton, died at 1:16 a.m. April 7, 2013, at St. Mary’s Hospital, Decatur.

His funeral will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at Weldon United Methodist Church, with the Revs. C. Don Ferrill and Dennis Smith officiating. Burial with military honors will be at Weldon Cemetery. Visitation will be from 10 to 11 a.m. Saturday at the church. Calvert Funeral Home, Clinton, is in charge of arrangements. Memorials may be made to Weldon United Methodist Church or Weldon Fire Department.

He was born Nov. 30, 1932, in Canebrake, W.Va., a son of William T. Blankenship Sr. and Blanche Marrs Blankenship. He married Dicksie R. Smaller on April 16, 1955, at Williams Air Force Base, Ariz.

He is survived by his wife of Clinton; children, Elizabeth Baker, Clinton, and Donald L. (Melody) Blankenship, McLoud, Okla.; four grandchildren, Timothy (Meghan) Baker, Surena Saiter, Shannon (Frank) Sevick and Sydney Young; one brother, David O. (Jinny) Blankenship, Ardmore, Okla.; six great-grandchildren; and one great-grandchild on the way.

He was preceded in death by his parents and one daughter, Mary Ellen Snyder.

He was a member of Weldon United Methodist Church, Masonic Lodge AF&AM 812 of DeLand and Weldon American Legion Post 1049.

He was a U.S. Air Force veteran, retiring after 21 years of service to his country. Bill and his wife were past owners of B&D Market, Weldon.