Blankenship, 61, who dedicated 20-plus years of service to the organization and those who raced in it, passed quietly in his sleep at home in Big Rock, Virginia. He was himself an avid drag racer and had won numerous awards since 1967.
Hank and his wife Shirley, who passed away in 2009, were mainstays in the IHRA’s tech and membership departments, and well known to many competitors over the years.
He was employed by Car Quest in Hurley, Virginia as well as by the IHRA.
Survivors include his wife Brenda Faye Baldwin Blankenship of the home; daughter, Kimberly Michelle Blankenship Dykes and husband Christopher Paul of Bristol, Virginia, Anthony Leon Keen and wife Kayla of Piney Flats, Tennessee, Wesley Ryan Keen and fiancé, Jessica Looney of Grundy, Virginia.
He is also survived by his grandson, Brantley Colton Dykes, and two step-granddaughters, Emma Grace Keen and Layla Faith Keen.
Funeral services will be conducted at the Shortridge-Ramey Funeral Home Chapel in Grundy, VA, Friday, January 11, 2013 at 1:00 p.m. with Pastors Dennis Wimmer and Wade McGeorge officiating. Burial will follow at Mountain Valley Memorial Park, Big Rock, Virginia.
Active Pallbearers will be the employees of Car Quest of Hurley, Virginia, and honorary Pallbearers will be Anthony Keen, Ryan Keen, Junior Jackson, Christopher Paul Dykes, Chris Justus, Troy Viers and the employees of the IHRA.
The family will receive friends at the Shortridge-Ramey Funeral Home Chapel in Grundy, VA, Wednesday, January 9, 2013, after 6:00 p.m.
Evening services will be held Thursday evening at 7:00 p.m.
Online condolences may be viewed at www.shortridgeramey.com .
Please join all of us at IHRA in remembering Hank, his family and his friends by keeping them in your thoughts and prayers at this sad time.
