Lena Mae Gipson Blankenship

Lena Mae Gipson Blankenship, 78, of Wilkes-Barre, passed away Thursday evening, January 17, 2008, at home. Born July 2, 1929, in Chattanooga, TN, she was the daughter of the late Charles and Claudine (Carruther) Siler. She was educated in Chattanooga and was employed as a cook at Erlanger Hospital prior to moving to Pennsylvania. Lena was preceded in death by her first husband J.W. Gipson; daughter, Lena Diane Gipson; sisters, Christine Carlton, Helen Hughes, Lily Mae Hines; and brothers, James Siler and Charles Siler, Jr. To cherish her memory, she leaves behind her daughters and sons-in-law, Cheryl and William Owens, Dolores Gipson and William Barley, Judith Blankenship and Glenn White, all of Wilkes-Barre; step-daughter, Willa Ellington, Larksville; grandchildren, John Barrett, Mario Jones, Larry Allen, Devon Gipson, Anthony Gipson, Marcus Gipson, Nicholas Killino, Samantha Blankenship, Samuel Blankenship, Derrick White; great granddaughter, Katia Ellington; sister, Marie, Chattanooga, TN, and nieces and nephews from York, PA and Ohio. A funeral service will be held Monday at 5:00 PM at Kniffen O'Malley Funeral Home, Inc., 465 South Main Street, Wilkes-Barre with Reverend Wallace Smith officiating. Interment will be private in Maple Hill Cemetery, Hanover Twp. Friends may call Monday evening from 4 to 5 PM.