Dean Blankenship, age 89 of Iuka passed away at 5:32 a.m. Sunday, June 26, 2016 at Mt. Vernon Countryside Manor.  He was born November 29, 1926 in Kell, Illinois the son of Jesse and Ida Pearl (Stonecipher) Blankenship.  He married Phyllis Elaine (Parks) of June 7, 1951 and she survives. Mr. Blankenship served his country during WW II in the U. S. Army and later in the National Guard.  He was a Civil Engineer and worked for Unnerstall Construction in Eureka, Missouri until his retirement. After retirement and returning to the Iuka area, he farmed and was a member of the Pleasant Grove Missionary Baptist Church.  He belonged to the NRA, the American Legion and Ducks Unlimited. He loved to read and was devoted to his wife Phyllis of 65 years and to all of his family. Dean is survived by his wife Phyllis and by two sons: James Blankenship and wife Shelly Lea of Daingerfield, Texas and Dean McClain Blankenship of Cary, North Carolina.  He is also survived by a son-in-law, Stephen Chilton and by two grandchildren: Samantha Hanzel and husband Will and Valarie Chilton and by great granddaughter Hailey Hanzel. Dean was preceded in death by his parents and by daughter, Patricia Dean Chilton and sister, Ruth Prelec. Funeral services for Dean Blankenship will be held will be held 4 p.m.  Thursday, June 30, 2016 at the Pleasant Grove Missionary Baptist Church in Iuka with Steve Hamson officiating.  Burial will follow at the Pleasant Grove Missionary Baptist Church Cemetery in Iuka. Visitation will be held on Thursday from 2p.m until service time at the Church. For those who wish, memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society and will be received at the L. R. Osborn & Son Funeral of Kell.