ORVAL EUGENE BLANKENSHIP, 87, left us, bound
for Heaven on Aug. 24, 2016. He went quickly & peacefully
from his home in Ruidoso Downs, NM. Ruidoso Downs had
been his home since 1971 when he and his wife of nearly
67 years, Bonnie Winona, journeyed from Sweetwater, TX.
Orval spent most of his life building and constructing,
both in Sweetwater and in Ruidoso. He started Circle B
Campground in 1971 and, many successful ventures later,
left his family with his latest (and last) business
venture, Lotza Stuff Flea Market in Ruidoso Downs. He
was truly an entrepreneur and worked hard his entire
life to provide for his family and leave a legacy.
Having left home at the young age of 13, he struck out
on his own. He met and married Bonnie Winona Estes in
Anton, TX in Aug. of 1949. They had three wonderful
children, Sherry, Karen and Stephen, which resulted in
five grandchildren and eleven great-grandchildren.
Orval was a member of Ruidoso Downs First Baptist Church.
In the last years gardening and especially tomatoes were
his passion, along with "junking" as he called it, with
Nona. Nona will sorely miss him, as will his three children,
their spouses Larry, Ray and Shamie. He was a wonderful
grandfather to Jennifer Brack, Scott Stevens, Rusty Smith,
Rheanna Archer and Jonathon Blankenship. He will be
remembered fondly by all of them and their spouses.
Orval was born in Ranger, TX on Oct. 28, 1929 and spent
87 wonderful years with us. He attended Ranger High School
in the Class of 1946. His brother was Bobbie Blankenship
(RHS-1948).