Bruce R. Blankenship

SALEM - Bruce Robert Blankenship, 74, entered eternal rest Thursday, August 7, 2025, with his wife, Debby, at his side.

He was born May 16, 1951, in East Liverpool, Ohio, the only child of Robert Blankenship and Patricia Coleman.

He graduated in 1969 from East Liverpool High School. He loved his hometown and regularly attended Potters football games. He enjoyed seeing rising talent at the EL basketball games for which he had season tickets many years.

Bruce worked at Homer Laughlin while in high school, Crane Deming Pump for 35 years and finally at John Krizay Co. for seven years until his retirement. He was currently employed at the Salem Community Center on the fitness floor where he’d worked for the past five years.

He greatly enjoyed pouring over genealogy files of his many ancestral lines. He particularly liked looking at original records documenting the lives of generations before him and was especially proud to know the name of the family progenitor for several family lines.

He loved sports: playing, coaching, umpiring, observing.

As a youth, he played football and baseball. As a young adult, he played slow pitch softball. He played 3-on-3 basketball at United High School and the Salem Memorial Building, where his boys loved to shoot baskets between games. He ran the 1986 Cleveland Revco marathon.

When his kids joined the Little League ranks, he stepped up to coach their teams. He coached Salem Little Quakers and Salem Stars football teams and youth baseball teams, Bob Sell and Quaker Ice Cream. He was also a Cubmaster.

He umpired high school baseball and softball and officiated high school basketball. Among his officiating honors was umpiring several high school state final softball and baseball games.

He took his sons fishing at Guilford Lake, Westville Lake and Salem Reservoir. He took them to OHSAA football championship games every year in the 1990s and 2000s. They also went to the NHRA Spring Nationals every year, no matter how hot the weather or how tight the budget. They attended many Pirates and Steelers games. Bruce was passionate about the Pittsburgh Steelers of the Steel Curtain/Chuck Noll era – they had a special place in his heart. He was a season ticket holder for many years after a decade long wait for seats.

His love of sports was eclipsed only by his love of mowing grass. Everyone who knew him knew how much he loved to be on the riding mower. His yard was always well manicured. He was the mulch master for his wife’s flower beds.

He loved his classic car, a 1968 Chevelle Concours, which he treated like a first wife or firstborn child, depending on which family member you asked. He bought it brand new as a 16-year-old and loved restoring it over the years.

Bruce leaves behind his wife Debby, to whom he was married 53 years; and his children, Krista (Jim) Nasella of Florida, Bruce Aaron (Mary Beth) of New Middletown and Brett (Crystal) of Texas. He was Papa Bruce to Caitlin, Ella and Ethan Blankenship. His furbabies, Betty and Ebony will miss their backrubs and treats.

Because Bruce is busy cruising in the Chevelle, he requested no services. Instead, please enjoy your favorite memories of him. The family plans a celebration of life at a later date.

Arrangements are being handled by Stark Memorial Funeral Home and Cremation Services.

To view Bruce's obituary, send condolences or order flowers, visit www.starkmemorial.com.

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