William "Bill" H. Blankenship

William Henry Blankenship, of Peoria, Illinois, passed away peacefully on October 16, 2024, at 4:04 AM at Integrity Healthcare in Carbondale, Illinois. Born on October 19, 1952, in New Jersey, Bill spent his early years in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, before settling in Peoria at the age of 17, where he would plant roots and build his family.

Throughout his life, Bill pursued various careers, working as a union construction laborer, property manager, and accountant. He took pride in pointing out the infrastructure projects he had helped build as he drove his children around town. Always industrious, he enlisted his children in updating his rental properties and managed them with a personal touch, treating his renters like extended family.

Bill had a passion for helping others, especially through his work as a tax preparer, where he aimed to make filing affordable while finding deductions to put money back into his clients' pockets.

Outside of work, Bill was an avid moviegoer, enjoying action and sci-fi films on the weekends. He also loved listening to talk radio, especially NPR, and kept up with political and financial affairs. Bill cherished time with his family, with his grandchildren being his greatest joy. Before his health began to decline, he was in frequent contact with his children and their spouses, ensuring no week passed without a call to check in on them.

He was preceded in death by his first wife, Sherill Trigg Blankenship, his mother Mary (Barry) Blankenship, and his uncle Robert Barry.

Bill is survived by his two sons with Sherill: Jason Blankenship, his ex-wife Tamika (Brown) Blankenship, and their children, Noah and Ariel, of Laurel, Maryland; and William Andrew (Andy) Blankenship, his ex-wife Erin Elliott, and their children, Jasmine and Cody, of Ft. Meade, Maryland.

He is also survived by his second ex-wife, Patricia (McAllister) Blankenship, and their daughter Claire (Blankenship) Cannon, her husband Charles, and their son Emmett Cannon, all of Peoria, Illinois.

In addition to his three children and five grandchildren, Bill leaves behind five stepchildren and their families from his first marriage to Sherill, as well as his brother Michael Blankenship of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Bill’s warm and welcoming spirit touched the lives of many. He will be deeply missed by family, friends, and all those fortunate enough to know him.

May he rest in eternal peace in the Lord’s embrace. RIP, Daddy.

Final arrangements lovingly entrusted to Southern Cremation and Burial Services of Murphysboro, Illinois.