Obituaries 10-13

Linda "Sharon" Thomas Blankenship

Linda "Sharon" Thomas Blankenship entered eternal rest on Oct. 10, 2011, after a long and valiant battle with cardiopulmonary disease.

Raised as Sharon Johnson in Yorktown, Ind., her creative talents were revealed at an early age, excelling in writing, music and fashion. She was a member of the Yorktown High School band, served as editor of the school newspaper, and voted as the "fashion plate" of her senior class.

Sharon moved to Northwest Florida in 1957 after marrying her husband of 39 years, Wendell D. Thomas of Laurel Hill, Fla. She worked as a feature writer for the Crestview newspaper prior to the birth of the first of her three children in 1959. She returned to Valparaiso, Fla., in 1967 and worked at Oklahoma State University on Eglin Air Force Base after living in the Florida space coast for several years. She retired from OSU after 25 years of service as an editor of technical manuals for the Air Armament Center.

She married Raymond E. Blankenship in 2000 after the death of her first husband and continued to live in the Twin Cities area as an active member of the community through various Christian ministries. Sharon embraced life and set an example to others by her generosity and compassion. She will always be remembered for her kind, welcoming spirit, her wit and sense of humor, infectious laugh, and sense of fashion. Her strength and positive attitude were best demonstrated over the past decade as she battled her chronic illnesses.

She came to love her physician, Dr. Cynthia Bryan, her staff, as well as the staff of the Twin Cities Hospital, like members of her family during this time.

Sharon was preceded in death by her parents, J. Carroll and Pauline Johnson; her first husband, Wendell Thomas; her son, Shaun Thomas; and her stepson, Dennis Blankenship.

She is survived by her husband, Raymond Blankenship of Niceville, Fla.; daughters and sons-in-law, Susan and John Elledge of Valparaiso, and Shari and Ed Sauer of Treasure Island, Fla.; grandchildren, Amber Elledge and Erica Miller of Destin, Fla., and Joseph Elledge of Valparaiso; sister, Nancy Limbert of Daleville, Ind.; brother and sister-in-law, Jerry and Margret Johnson of Muncie, Ind.; stepdaughters, Joan Roman of Allentown, Pa., and Linda Batten of Newhall, Calif.; as well as many nieces, nephews, step-grandchildren, and step-great-grandchildren throughout the United States.

Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Oct.15 at Emerald Coast Funeral Home, 113 Racetrack Road N.E., Fort Walton Beach. A viewing will be held one hour prior to the funeral.

Floral services are being provided by Flowers and Gifts by Vivian in Niceville.

Donations can also be made in her honor to Covenant Hospice of Northwest Florida or to the Niceville Assembly of God Church Bereavement Fund.

Expressions of sympathy may be viewed or submitted online at www.emeraldcoastfuneralhome.com.