Elizabeth Blankinship

Elizabeth Gwendolyn "Gwen" Williams Blankinship, 91, of Brevard died on Saturday, June 28, 2008.

She was born on April 16, 1917 in Chicago, Illinois to the late Richard Hugh and Margaret Sarah Jones Williams. Her father was born in Denbigh, N. Wales and her mother was born in Bethesda, N. Wales. She was also preceded in death by her husband of 64 years, Don Robert Blankinship, her brothers, Hugh Trevor Williams and Richard Clifford Williams and sisters, Margaret Gladys Meade and Winifred Eleanor Williams.

Gwen attended Bryn Mawr Grammar School and graduated from Hyde Park High School in Chicago. She worked at the People's Gas, Light, and Coke Company in Chicago where she met her husband, Don. They were married in Miami, Florida in 1942.

Gwen's interests included knitting, cross stitching, quilting, sewing, making and restoring dolls, furniture refinishing, playing bridge, traveling, gardening and she was a voracious reader. Her volunteer and civic activities included being a Grey Lady Volunteer at Swannanoa, working at blood mobiles, being an assistant leader with Brownies and Cub Scouts and working the cookie and drink cart at the old Transylvania Hospital. She was also a Lifetime Member of the Hospital Auxiliary, a devoted member of the Hospital Workshop, and was a messenger and worked the information desk at the Transylvania Community Hospital and delivered Meals on Wheels with her husband. In addition she was one of the original quilters at the First United Methodist Church where she quilted for 30 years. She was a member of the Brevard-Davidson River Presbyterian Church where she served as Social Chairman, Treasurer of her Circle, teacher of the 2-year old Sunday School Class, Communion Chairman and member of Women of the Church.

She is survived by daughter, Donna B. Fleming and husband, Charles T. of Colonial Heights, Virginia and son, Paul R. Blankinship and wife, Lynn D. of Raleigh. She has one granddaughter, Mary F. Crawley and husband, Scott W., of Annandale, Virginia and three great grandchildren, Andrew Thomas, Wade Robert and Lauren Elizabeth Crawley.

A memorial service will be held on Wednesday, July 2, 2008 at 11 a.m. at the Brevard-Davidson River Presbyterian Church. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to the Transylvania County Library and the Brevard-Davidson River Presbyterian Church.

To leave a condolence message for the Blankinship family, please go to "Obituaries" at www.moore-fh.com .

Moore Funeral Home is caring for the Blankinship family.