BOMBER MEMORIAL

ESTLE "BILL" BLANKINGSHIP ^JR. ~ Class of 1962
December 23, 1943 - June 30, 2025



Estle “Bill” Blankingship ^Jr., aged 81, passed away on June 30, 2025, in Benton City, Washington. Born on December 23, 1943, in Shreveport, Louisiana, Bill was a lifelong sports enthusiast and a highly skilled welder.

Bill graduated from Richland's Columbia High School in 1962, where he excelled in sports, laying the groundwork for his athletic pursuits. He briefly played professional baseball as a catcher, including being drafted by the NY Mets, before his love for his hometown brought him back. He was also a proud member of the CBC Rose Bowl team.

Following his sports career, Bill served in the Army National Guard, where his commitment and discipline were highly valued. He then transitioned to a successful career as a Pipefitter/Welder Manager, retiring from the Hanford area. His work ethic and leadership in this role were well-respected by colleagues and juniors alike.

Beyond his professional life, Bill was deeply involved in his community. He was known for his competitive spirit in sports, playing basketball and baseball all day with his crew, often engaging in friendly wagers or poking fun at his friends with a smile on his face. Beyond playing basketball and baseball, he also enjoyed watching games on TV, but would sometimes shut the game off when an error was made. Very serious spectator. His passion extended to coaching, lifeguarding, and contributing significantly to local events like Cool Desert Nights, where he served as a head judge for over 700 cars.

His love for vintage cars was profound, owning a collection and often participating in car shows. Bill’s talents in welding were shown to be useful as he also enjoyed building hot rods, some from the frame up. Bill owned a professional drag race car and would sometimes spend hours with his brother, Charlie ('69), working on small details to make the car go faster.

Bill was also an animal lover, particularly fond of dogs, and would go out of his way to care for the local animals, even feeding the neighbor’s cow with lawn clippings, who would be eagerly waiting at the fence whenever the lawnmower was started.

Bill is survived by his wife of 60 years, Linda; his brother, Charlie ('69) and his wife Dawn; along with four nieces and two nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Ruby and Estle Blankingship ^Sr.; and by his sister, Helga Blankingship-Norris ('66).

His legacy of dedication, love for his community, and spirited personality will be fondly remembered and sorely missed.

A graveside service will be held from 2 PM - 3 PM on Friday, July 25, 2025, at Mueller's Desert Lawn Memorial Park located at the corner of Union Street and 10th Avenue in Kennewick.

Express your thoughts and memories in the Einan's online Guest Book.

Bomber Memorial put together by Shirley COLLINGS Haskins ('66).