Dorothy Nica Blankenship

Dorothy Nica Clemmer Blankenship (Dot), 94, of Bent Mountain, Virginia was taken to be with her Lord on Thursday, February 23, 2017 after complications from a fall.  She was born at home in 1923 on her family’s farm next to the Old Oxford Church in Rockbridge County, Virginia to the late Philip Ruffner and Nica Montgomery Clemmer.  She was an active member of Cave Spring Baptist Church where she accepted Christ as her Lord and Savior in her early thirties.

Dot grew up in Lexington, Va. and attended Mary Washington College, but left school for government service at Camp Batner, N.C. when World War II began.  She continued working for the government and became an adjudicator at the Veterans Administration where she worked in Roanoke, Va. and then Columbia, SC until retirement.

Dot and her husband Al restored an old farmhouse dating back to the 1800’s on Bent Mountain where they enjoyed their retirement.  Her favorite view was watching the beautiful sunrises over the mountains.  She loved seeing reporters and photographers take pictures of the barn and an old hay binder near it for the weather channel as well as bridal photos and other portraits.  Visitors to the Bent Mountain Bistro enjoy using her picnic table there for meals.

She was loved by all who knew her and was a wonderful mother who gardened, cooked, and sewed clothes for them as well as providing a college education.  She encouraged all her children and grandchildren to study piano.  Her son, Monty, became an accomplished pipe organist who played classical music and hymns for her in the evenings.

Her passion was gardening and flowers, especially rhododendrons.  A beautiful tall evergreen tree that she had planted on her land was donated to the city of Roanoke for their annual Christmas tree.  She was famous for her apple pies and sweet and tart applesauce made from early transparent apples.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 58 years, Elbert Louis Blankenship (Al), one brother Joseph Clemmer, and four sisters Marjorie Showalter, Mary Jane Ward, Jean Alphin, and Isabelle Gregory Vickers.  She is survived by son Monty Alan Blankenship of Bent Mountain, Va., daughter Nica Jean Sweeny and husband William O. Sweeny III of Columbia, SC, and son Gary Gill Blankenship wife Kimberly Law Blankenship, grandchildren Shannon Blankenship Reynolds and husband Brandon Reynolds of Atlanta, Ga., Jane Ann Nica Sweeny and husband Marvin Evatt of Charleston, SC.,  Billy Sweeny and his wife Victoria of Charleston, SC., Whitney Paige Blankenship and Chase Turner Blankenship of Roanoke, Va., great grandchildren Ann Palmer Reynolds and Thomas Banks Reynolds of Atlanta, Ga., nephews Robert Gregory of Middleton, Wi., Richard Showalter of Beckley, W.Va., Charles Alphin of Buchanan, Va., Philip Clemmer of Hawaii, Wayne Eastman of Clarksville, Va., Donald Eastman of Hopewell, Va., Rusty Eastman of Stone Mountain, Ga., and niece Lillian Eastman of Hampton, Va.

Visitation will be Friday, March 3 from 5 to 7 pm at Cave Spring Baptist Church in Roanoke, Va.  A private burial will be at 10 am, Saturday March 4 at Evergreen Burial Park followed by  A Celebration of Dorothy’s life at the Chapel of Light at Evergreen Burial Park at 11 am.  Memorials may be made to Cave Spring Baptist Church.

Tharp Funeral Home & Crematory – Roanoke Chapel is assisting the family.