Mr. Ricky Blankenship, 54, of South Charleston, formerly of Madison, went home to be with the Lord on Sunday, March 1, 2026.
Ricky was strong to the very end and truly completed his race. As Scripture reminds us, to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord. His will to live was unmatched. He had a deep desire to live and a genuine love for life. Ricky was a good man who was deeply loved by all who knew him. He was a man of faith, devotion, and dedication, and he loved his wife, son, and mother with all his heart.
A graduate of Man High School and Marshall University, Ricky dedicated much of his life to serving others. He retired from Madison Middle School, where he faithfully coached girls’ basketball for 10 years, leading his teams through several undefeated seasons. He poured his heart into his players, not only teaching them the game but also instilling discipline, confidence, and teamwork. Ricky was a member of Nitro Church of the Nazarene and an avid Cincinnati Bengals fan who proudly cheered on his team each season.
He was preceded in death by his father, Kim Rickford Blankenship, his grandparents, Silas and Lucille Blankenship and Bill and Emma Mitchell.
Ricky leaves behind a legacy of love and faith. He is survived by his loving wife of 36 years, Mrs. Christy Blankenship; his son, Connor Marshall Blankenship; his mother, Rebecca (Allan) Dantes; sisters-in-law Robyn (John) Perovich and Iris (James) Miller; aunts Connie Blankenship Baumer and Stacy Blankenship Beechy; uncle Richard (Janet) Mitchell; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, friends, former players, and church family who will forever cherish his memory.
A tribute to the life of Ricky will be held at 1:00 PM Saturday, March 14, 2026, at Nitro Church of the Nazarene with Pastor Bron Walker officiating. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service on Saturday at the church.
