James & Frances Blankenbeckler - The Smyth County jam always honors and welcomes our "regular" audiences. James and Frances are among the most faithful attendees. The Blankenbecklers have been married (to each other) for eleven years. They have children from other marriages. James has three sons and five grandchildren. Frances has two daughters. Frances says she was born in West Virginia. Her father was a coal miner. She is the oldest of five children. James was born in Smyth County, Virginia. They live in the St Clair's Creek area. James is an avid fox hunter; he owns ten fox hounds!! Frances says she goes with him fox hunting. A hobby of hers is sewing. Both very much enjoy the Smyth County Jam and appreciate both bluegrass and gospel music. Neither of them play music. The Blankenbecklers are members of Macedonia Baptist Church, near their home. James worked for the highway department and farms also. Frances says she has worked at several local factories. They like the music of Bill Monroe, Lester Flatt, Don Reno, the Stanley Brothers and Doyle Lawson. James will be eighty-four in August and Frances will be eighty-three in November. These are very precious folks; friendly and kind to everyone they meet. The Smyth County Jam appreciates the Blankenbecklers!
In Memorandum
Frances Elizabeth Eller Blankenbeckler November 20, 1931 - September 14, 2020 CHILHOWIE, Va.
Frances Elizabeth Eller Blankenbeckler, age 88, passed away on Monday, September 14, 2020, at the Johnston Memorial Hospital in Abingdon, Va.
She was born in West Virginia to the late Oscar Carter and Hattie Doss Carter and was preceded in death by her first husband, Earnest Eller; her brother, Robert Carter; son-in-law, Sam McVey; mother-in-law, Rebecca Eller; many brothers and sisters-in-law.
Frances was the sweetest, kindest lady to everyone. She loved church and her church family at Macedonia Baptist Church where she was a faithful member. She was a very hardworking lady, having worked at Bonham Brothers, Buster Brown, Hampshire, Visador and as a homemaker. She loved to sew and help others. She was a great wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, mother in law and friend. She truly loved her family and was the backbone of it. She will truly be missed by her family and friends.
Survivors include her husband, James Blankenbeckler; daughters, Rita Eller McVey and Anita Eller Turley and husband, Kenneth; brother, Tommy Carter and wife, Judy; sisters, Doris Corbeil and Gladys Spencer; grandchildren, Tommy Turley and Renita Turley; great-grandchildren, Kourtney and Billy Jones, Wayne Turley and Hannah Thomas, and Kainan Biller; great great-grandchildren, Everly Jones and Olivia Turley; best friend, Shirley Lowe; three stepsons, Jimmy, Darrel, and David Blakenbeckler; and several nieces and nephews.
Graveside funeral services will be held at 5 p.m. Wednesday, September 16, 2020, at the Macedonia Baptist Church Cemetery with the Reverend Dennis Eller and the Reverend Joey Rowland officiating. The family will receive friends from 3 until 5 p.m. prior to services at the Macedonia Baptist Church.
Expressions of sympathy may be sent to the family at bradleysfh.com.
Bradley's Funeral Chapel is serving the family of Frances Blankenbeckler. Bradley's Funeral Chapel 307 Old Stage Road, Chilhowie, Va,
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Published by Bristol Herald Courier on Sep. 16, 2020.
