Dorothy Marie Gibson Blankenship
Dorothy Marie Gibson Blankenship passed away peacefully at home surrounded by her family on April 6 and has gone to be with her Lord.
Dorothy was born on May 19, 1930, in Dallas to L. R. Gibson and Mary Melton Gibson and grew up in the Park Cities.
She was a lifelong scholar who was dedicated to teaching and learning. Dorothy graduated with high honors from Highland Park High School in May of 1947. She attended Baylor University before later graduating from SMU with bachelor’s and master’s degrees in education. In the summer of 1965, she studied classics as a Fulbright Scholar at the American University in Rome. She pursued further graduate coursework in classical studies at the University of Texas at Austin and education at Columbia University.
For many years, Dorothy taught Latin and English at several high schools and community colleges in the Dallas area, including Highland Park, Ursuline Academy, Plano East, Richland College, and Brookhaven College.
She was a charter member of Park Cities Baptist Church, joining in December 1939. Dorothy was unwaivering in her faith and spent her life as an active member of PCBC, teaching Sunday school and singing in the choir. She also belonged to many literary and philanthropic organizations, including the Hanover Book Club, Front Row Center Book Club, the Shakespeare Club, and the Salvation Army Women’s Auxiliary.
In 1968, she married William F. Blankenship Jr., and had two sons: William F. Blankenship III of Dallas and Stephen M. Blankenship of Atlanta.
Dorothy is also survived by her daughter-in-law, Jennifer Howard Blankenship; two grandchildren, Will and Caroline Blankenship; her sister, Nancy Witt of Mount Pleasant, Texas; her brother, Bob Gibson of Dallas; and numerous nieces and nephews.
On April 9, a memorial service to celebrate Dorothy’s life was held in Ellis Chapel at Park Cities Baptist Church and she was laid to rest at Pecan Grove Cemetery in McKinney.
Memorials in Dorothy’s honor may be made to the Vickery Mission at Park Cities Baptist Church, Food for the Hungry, World Vision, or to the charity of your choice.
