Wayne Thomas Blanks
June 14, 1941 – Feb. 1, 2016

Mr. Wayne Thomas Blanks, age 74, a resident of W. 12th Street, Washington, died February 1, 2016, at Vidant Pitt Hospital.

Wayne was born June 14, 1941, in Hopewell, Virginia to the late Waverly Edwin Blanks and Louise Brown Blanks. After graduating high school he attended Virginia Tech. Wayne served his country in the Army Reserve and was presently working as a reliability engineer with East Carolina University. On June 20, 1970 he married the former Loretta Woolard who survives.

Survivors in addition to his wife include one daughter Amanda Blanks Mason and husband Greg of Lexington, MA., two sons, Wayne Thomas Blanks, Jr. and wife Blair of Townson, MD, and Joel Brown Blanks of Washington, NC and eight grandchildren. Other survivors include one sister Patricia Blanks Price and husband Albert of Hopewell, VA, two brothers, Edwin E. Blanks of Richmond, VA and William L. Blanks of Dinwiddie, VA,. Sister in law, Cindy Blanks Shearin and many nieces and nephews. Also surviving is his beloved mother in law Edna Respess Woolard of Washington, NC. Wayne was also preceded in death by one son, James Wyatt Blanks and one brother, Ted Patterson Blanks.

A celebration of his life will be held 11:00 am Friday, February 5, 2016 in the chapel of Hillside Funeral Service with Reverend Michael Price officiating. Burial will follow the service at Oakdale Cemetery. Glenn Smith, Franklin Smith, Patrick Price, Bart Blanks, Herb Tiede, and Ray Tenanty will serve as pallbearers. The family will receive friends at the home, 214 W. 12th Street, Washington, NC. In lieu of flowers memorials can be made to The Jimmy Fund at jimmyfundgiving.org, 10 Brookline Place West, Brookline, MA 02445, The James Wyatt Respess Blanks Endowment BCCC at 5337 US Hwy 264, Washington, NC, and The Dana Farber Cancer Institute, P.O. Box 849168, Boston, MA 02284.

You may share a memory with the family and view Mr. Blanks’ memorial by visiting www.hillsidefuneralservice.com. Hillside Funeral Service & Cremations, 4500 Hwy 264 E, Washington, has been given the honor of being entrusted with serving the Blanks family.