Keister Montgomery Blanks, Sr.

Keister M. Blanks, Sr. of the Providence community of Halifax County, VA passed away on Saturday, September 2, 2017 at the age of 98 years old. He was born in Halifax County on November 27, 1918 and was the son of Walter Elysee Blanks and Deliah Irby Blanks, both deceased.  He was also predeceased by his beloved wife of 70 years Nannie Moorefield Blanks and his brothers Roy M. Blanks and Walter "Dick" A. Blanks, and one sister Dorothy Blanks Allen; son-in-law C. Wayne Slayton, and daughter-in-law Susan Nichols Blanks. He was a lifelong member of Providence Presbyterian Church.  Mr. Blanks is survived by his brother Aubrey Blanks and wife Betty of Lynchburg, VA; one son Keister (Butch?) M. Blanks, Jr. and wife Pam Blanks of Halifax, VA; one daughter Carolyn Blanks Slayton of Nathalie, VA ; grandchildren Todd M. Blanks, Kimley Blanks, and Angie Slayton Price and husband CWO-5 Troy A. Price USMC. Also surviving are great grandchildren Cpl Brandon S. Garner USMCR, CPL Tyler D. Garner USA, and Nicholas B. Sargent. He is also survived by numerous relatives of the Blanks, Irby, and Moorefield families.  Mr. Blanks was a 70 year Mason of both French Lodge 270 at Nathalie, VA and Kerns Lodge 143 at Crystal Hill, VA, and a 32nd degree of the Scottish Rite.  He was co-founder and the last surviving owner of Blanks & Dyches Electric and Plumbing Company, Inc. that was located in Clover, VA. He was a founding member of the Sportsmens Club of Halifax and a founding member and past Commander of Staunton River Post 339 of the American Legion in Clover, VA. He and his wife Nannie were instrumental, along with his brother Roy Blanks, in the restoration and preservation of Historic Halifax Church along with the re-construction and preservation of the rest of Noland Village located in the Providence Community. He was a true outdoorsman and in his younger years was an avid hunter and fisherman. He cherished his working farm in Providence where he and Nannie lived and raised their children. He served in the U.S. Navy during World War II and prior to that worked as an electrician apprentice at Newport News Shipbuilding & Dry Dock Company in Newport News, VA for a few years. He returned to Halifax County with his wife and young son in 1945 after his discharge from the Navy.  Funeral services will be held on Monday, September 4, 2017 at 2:00 p.m. at Providence Presbyterian Church. Burial and Masonic Rites will follow in the church cemetery and will be followed by a reception in the church's fellowship hall. Memorials may be directed to Historic Halifax Church at 5020 Mortons Ferry Road, Nathalie, VA 24577. Online condolences may be made at www.powellfuneralinc.com.  Arrangements are by Powell Funeral Home, 1603 Wilborn Avenue, South Boston, VA 24592