Bille Blankenship

Billie F. Blankenship of Hopewell, passed away on March 2, 2011. She was the daughter of the late Lemual Cudd Foster and Mamie Lou Evans Foster. A graveside service was held at the family grave site at Blandford Cemetery on March 5, 2011 with Rev. Dr. Charles Moore, officiating. She is survived by her daughter Linda Krizmanich of Annapolis, MD; grandson John Krizmanich and wife Tracy of Moyock, NC; great-grandchildren Madison and John R. of Moyock. Mrs. Blankenship graduated from Hopewell High School in 1934. She then left for Washington, DC, soon after to seek employment. Her first job was with the Washington Post Newspaper. She was then hired by the Department of Defense (War Department) by Headquarters, Military Traffic Management Terminal Service, Washington, D.C. She retired after 37 years as a Traffic Management Specialist. She attended American University receiving a degree in Traffic Management and studied Philosophy at Catholic University. She was one of the first women to attend basic and advanced classes at Ft. Eustis, VA. She was a proud member of Merchants Hope Episcopal Church; Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR); National Rifle Association (NRA); National Ordinance Society; Association of University Women and many historical societies. After retiring, she worked as a volunteer at hospitals and historical societies in the Alexandria and Richmond, VA area. She also did extensive research with the help of the library, Church and friends of her family ancestry. Richard Cureton and members of the Cureton family came to Prince George, VA., in 1623 from England and Wales. They owned and farmed land from Route 10 down to the James River. They attended Merchants Hope Church. She was extremely proud of her heritage.