LYNCO — Elizabeth Jane Blankenship Banther, 91, of Lynco, went home to be with the Lord on Sunday August 22, 2010 at her home. She was a homemaker and a loving mother and grandmother.

She was born March 30, 1919, in Clear Fork, WV, to the late Blackburn "Black" Dollliver Blankenship (1871-1939) and Sarah P. Brown-Blankenship (1874-1947), she was the last survivor of her immediate family.

Also preceding her in death was her husband James "Dillard" Banther, Sr. (1910-1981) whom she married on August 7, 1948 in Oceana, Wyoming County, WV (per WV Marriage License Register, Wyoming County, WV, 1948, Page 293, Application Date: August 2, 1948); her first husband, James "Jim" Smith (Deceased); a son, Billy Joe Smith (1944-2008); a granddaughter, Robin Leneice Smith (1973-2008); stepchildren, Elsie Mae Banther-Abshire (1930-Deceased), Mary Lou Banther-Lambert (1931-1997), and John Banther (1939-Deceased); and brothers and sisters, Bruce Blackburn Blankenship Sr. (1897-1977), Carson Blankenship (1898-1966), Fred Blankenship (1900-1965), Fanny Blankenship-Toler (1901-1966), Stella Blankenship-Chambers (1902-1963), Wayne Blankenship (1905-1976), Frank Blankenship (1908-1993), Joseph "Joe" Blankenship (1907-Deceased), Arnold Blankenship (1912-1964), Lee O. Blankenship (1913-1971), Bertha May Blankenship-Holloway (1914-1947), and Herbert Austin Blankenship (1915-1975).

Survivors include a daughter, Bessie P. Smith-Blankenship of Lynco, WV; a son, Jerry L. Smith and wife Inez Smith of Clear Fork, WV; ten grandchildren Gary Wayne Smith, Clint Smith, Jerry Lee Smith Jr., Nicholas Smith, Terri Wells, Angie Morgan, Elizabeth McAlpin, William Smith, Michael Wayne Brown & wife Tena L. Brown, and Tonda Hatfield; a stepson, James Dillard "J.D." Banther, Jr. (1938-2012) and wife Janice Banther of Lynco; two step-grandchildren, Jimmy Dean Banther and Jackie Banther; twenty great-grandchildren; seven great great-grandchildren; two special nieces Corby Morgan and Betty Toler; and a host of nieces, nephews and other loving family and friends.

Funeral services will be held at 1:00 p.m. Thursday August 26, 2010 in the Chapel of Stafford Family Funeral Home, Lynco, with Rev. Firg Proffitt officiating. She will be laid to rest in Palm Memorial Gardens, Matheny, WV. Friends may call from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. today, Wednesday August 25, 2010 at the funeral home.