Dr. Watson Blankenship

Dr. Jacob Watson Blankenship was born in Denison, Texas, on March 6, 1933. He passed away on November 5, 2017, from this life to be with our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Jake met and married his wife, Helen McDonald, on October 8, 1954. He earned 3 degrees including his Ph.D. from the University of Texas in Science Education. He was a lecturer at the University of Texas as a graduate student and then taught 5 years at Oklahoma State University. He finished his teaching career at the University of Houston as a tenured professor having served 20 years there. He then answered a call to preach and attended Nazarene Theological Seminary while pastoring in Kansas and Missouri. His last 7 ½ years in ministry were spent at College Church of the Nazarene where he retired in 2006.

Jake was very involved in science research and authored many articles that were published in science magazines. He was president of the National Science Teachers Association, served on the Board of Trustees for 16 years at Southern Nazarene University, and served on various boards during his ministry on the Kansas City District. He also taught at NASA and served as a consultant to many school districts across the United States.

Jake served in the US Army for two years during the Korean War in El Paso, Texas, as a corporal in the Finance Division.

Preceding him in death were his parents, Christine Weist Blankenship and Lee Harold Blankenship and sisters Rosemary Sullivan and Betty Lynch and husband, W.M., and one brother, James Blankenship, and niece Carolyn Sue Phillips.

Those left to cherish his legacy are his wife, Helen, of 63 years; Helen Ann Bucher, daughter and husband, Dave, of Saipan; Jacob Watson Blankenship, Jr., son and wife, Becky, of Jefferson City, Missouri; Susan Metcalf, daughter and husband, Keith, of Divide, Colorado; Six grandchildren and spouses including Bryan and Melodie Bucher and Jake's great grandsons, David and William, of Yukon, Oklahoma; Laura and Josiah Kyonka of Eugene, Oregon; Diann and Joseph Churchill and Jake's great grandson, Axel Watson, of Jefferson City, Missouri; Rebekah and Brent Hager of Lynchburg, Virginia; Steven and Allison Metcalf and Jake's great grandson, Watson Jay, of Bethany, Oklahoma; and Jake and Bethany Metcalf of Bethany, Oklahoma. He also leaves behind his brother, Harold Blankenship and wife, Doris, of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; Sister-in-law, Chris Blankenship of Lubbock, Texas; Brother-in-law Ray Sullivan of the Dallas, Texas area; sister Carolyn McNeil of Pottsboro, Texas; and several nieces and nephews that he loved and cared for deeply.

A memorial fund has been planned in lieu of flowers. Gifts can be sent to Golden Bell Camp and Conference Center, 380 County Road 512, Divide, CO 80814 or online at goldenbellccc.org - click on the donate button. Please mark gifts with his name. All gifts received by December 15 will be matched. Jake loved Golden Bell! It is a beautiful place up in the mountains outside Colorado Springs where hundreds make decisions for Christ each year. Jake received his call to full time ministry there and it remains very important to the family.





To leave a special message for his family or to share a memory of Jacob, please click on the "Share Memories" tab above or scroll down below.