Melba Joy Rush Blankenship

Of Melbourne, Arkansas

Melba Joy Rush Blankenship, daughter of the late Garland Rush and Peal Carder Rush, was born May 20, 1934 in Knob Creek, Arkansas.  She departed this life July 15, 2023 in Batesville, Arkansas at the age of 89 years, 1 month and 25 days.  She was united in marriage to R. J. Blankenship December 27, 1950 and together they raised two daughters and two sons. Melba spent her life as a loving daughter, sister, wife, mother, grandmother, homemaker and friend. She worked many years for the Wyatt family as a house keeper and child care.  She was of the Baptist faith and a long time member of Belview Baptist Church in Melbourne.

Melba is survived by two daughters:  Joy Frizzell of Knob Creek and Kristie Fjordholm and husband Bjorn of Bixby, Oklahoma; one sister:  Erma Collier of East Wenatchee, Washington; five grandchildren:  Chris Blankenship of Batesville, Cynthia Blankenship of Batesville, Chad Blankenship of Greenbrier, Keigan Cole of Hillsville, Virginia and Destiny Diaz of Katy, Texas; one daughter-in-law:  Debra Blankenship of Batesville; numerous nieces and nephews and a host of other relatives and many good friends.  She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; two sons:  Hayden Blankenship and Allen Blankenship; one brother:  Wade Rush and one son-in-law:  James Frizzell.

Graveside funeral service will be Wednesday, July 19 at 10:00 a.m. at Combs Cemetery in Melbourne.

Honorary pallbearers:  Chris Blankenship, Chad Blankenship, Keigan Cole and Chris Newsome.