Shelby Harlan Blankenship, 87, of Ferguson NC, formerly of Princeton, died peacefully early Sunday morning, December 21, 2025, at his home.

Born March 19, 1938, in Princeton, he was the son of the late Howard Blankenship and Opal Wimmer Blankenship. Shelby had served in the U.S. Air Force. He retired from GTE/Frontier Communication as an installer with 27 years of service. While living in Princeton, he was a member of First Church of God on Mahood Avenue and a member of the Adult Sunday School Class.  In his spare time, he enjoyed hunting, fishing and antique cars.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife Dorothy "Dottie" Bailey Blankenship, along with a brother Dwight Blankenship.

Those left to cherish his memory, his son Greg Blankenship and wife Trish, grandchildren, Kassidy Renee Cobler (Michael), Khristian Blankenship, Alston Billing (Gretta), Destinee Phipps (Josh); Great-grandchildren, Ava, Hudson and Brayden.

Funeral services will be held 1:00 P.M. Monday, December 29, 2025, in the Chapel of the Memorial Funeral Directory on the Athens Road in Princeton with Pastors Ray Jones and Justin Dancy officiating. Burial will follow in Roselawn Memorial Gardens in Princeton. Friends may visit with the family on Monday from Noon until the service hour.

Family and friends will serve as pallbearers.

Online condolences may be shared with the family via www.memorialfd.com . The Blankenship family is being served by Memorial Funeral Directory and Cremation Center on Athens Road in Princeton.