Reuben Lee Blanton Jr.

Reuben Lee Blanton, Jr., 78, of Amelia, VA, died Friday, August 17, 2018 due to a farming accident. A lifelong resident of Amelia, he was the son of the late Reuben Lee and Nell Clay Blanton. He is survived by his sisters, Mary Nell Blanton Tatum (Rev. Gene C.) of Amelia, VA, and Betty Blanton Wood (H.B., Jr.) of Woodville, VA; and Russell G. Leslie, Jr., who worked with him on the farm for 24 years. A fourth generation farmer in Amelia County, Reuben devoted his entire life to farming and received numerous awards and recognitions for his hard work. He received the Virginia Outstanding Commercial Producer Award from the Virginia Beef Cattle Improvement Association, the State Forage Producer Award, and the Virginia Soybean Association 70 Bushel Club Award. He was a multiple winner of the Virginia High Yield Wheat Production and 100 Bushel per Acre Club and was named the Young Forest Farmer for the Piedmont Conservation District. Over the years, Mr. Blanton collaborated with Dr. Scott Hagood, Extension Specialist at Virginia Tech, and numerous graduate students evaluating strategies for weed control in corn, soybeans, and small grains. Reuben described his philosophy on farming in the following quote: “In production agriculture, there is a right time to do everything but many factors, especially weather, will interrupt you from doing it at the right time. There is a great advantage in doing things on the front side of the right time rather than on the back side!” He served for many years on the Farm Bureau Board, and was a member and former chairman of the Amelia County Planning Commission. He was a member of Tabernacle United Methodist Church, Amelia, and a former member of the Board of Trustees. Reuben took great enjoyment from portraying Santa Claus and giving away vegetables from his garden, especially corn and pumpkins. He taught the United Methodist Men of Ocran United Methodist Church his art of barbecuing chicken, a project which has continued across the years and has provided thousands of dollars for community outreach. He was made an honorary member of the Ocran United Methodist Men in appreciation for his service to the church. The family will receive friends from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Monday, August 20, 2018 at Amelia Academy, 8741 N. Five Forks Road, Amelia Court House, VA 23002. The funeral service will be held at Amelia Academy at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, officiated by Rev. Tim Beck, Pastor of Kenbridge UMC, and Rev. Jay Carey, Pastor of Bethia UMC, Chesterfield. Interment will follow at Tabernacle United Methodist Church Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Amelia Academy, P.O. Box 106, Amelia, VA 23002. Services are under the direction of the Dinwiddie Chapel of J.T. Morriss & Son Funeral Home. Condolences may be registered at www.jtmorriss.com .