William Jack "Pug" Blankenship resided in Charleston, Arkansas, passed away Sunday, August 23, 2009, in Little Rock, Arkansas. He was one of nine children and was born February 4, 1921 in Hoxie, Arkansas to the late Willoughby Blankenship and Mollie Robins Blankenship. He was 88 years old.

He is also preceded in death by his one wife, Susie Broach Blankenship, whom he was married to for 60 years and one daughter, Karen Burroughs.

He met his wife Susie when he was 16 years old at the Church of Christ in Damascus, Arkansas. On their first date, he took her to Dapper Dan's Cafe in Damascus and bought her a Nehi Orange Soda. Someone told him that was a pretty cheap date. He replied "It was cheaper than that, we shared the soda." However it wasn't cheap at all because after that he bought milk from her dad, Louis Broach, for 10 cents a gallon. He drank a lot of milk! He married Susie Broach, May 9, 1942. They had four children, Jack, Karen, Mike and Phillip.

He joined the Army on September 21, 1939 and retired November 30, 1959, as a master sergeant. He served in a major campaigns in Germany, Phillippines, Japan, and Korea, where he received a Battlefield Commission. He was a Master Mason. He admitted the Doric Lodge #471 in Damascus and became a Master Mason at Solomon Lodge #1 in Savanah, Georgia, which is the oldest lodge in America.

He managed the largest NCO and Officers Clubs in the world and after retirement, he managed the Hot Springs Country Club and later owned the Golden Arrow Diner in Lavaca, Arkansas. He was a member of the Church of Christ in Charleston.

He is remembered by his gentle spirit and friendliness to everyone and his astounding whit.

Funeral services will be 3:00 p.m., Tuesday, August 25, 2009, at the Brotherton Brothers Funeral Home Chapel in Charleston. Burial will be at the Parks Cemetery in Charleston, with "Full Military Honors", under the direction of the Brotherton Brothers Funeral Home in Charleston.

He is survived by three sons, Jack Blankenship of Conway, Mike Blankenship and Phillip Blankenship, both of Charleston; two brothers, John Blankenship of Killeen, Texas and Willoughby (Red) Blankenship of Heber Springs; one sister, Judy Allen of Jacksonville; 10 grandchildren and 14 great grandchildren.

Pall Bearers will be Kent, Bob, Roger, and J.P. Blankenship, Ronnie Burroughs, and Chuck Kirkpatrick.

To pay an online tribute, please visit www.brothertonbrothersfuneralhomes.com.