Milton (Milt) Blankenship

1935 – 2024: Milton “Milt” James Blankenship 88, of Georgetown, Texas, passed away peacefully at home on May 16, 2024. Milt was born on July 1, 1935 in La Crosse, Wisconsin, to Gordon and Agnes Blankenship. He is preceded in death by his parents and his sister Barbara  “Babs” Walsh. He is survived by his wife Judith “Judy” Blankenship of Georgetown, Texas, his children Jeffery “Jeff” Blankenship (Sue) of Spring, Texas, Vicky Harvin (John) of Corpus Christi, Texas, Terry “TJ” Blankenship (Ginger) of Loxahatchee, FL, and Susan Reitmann (Bill) of Georgetown, Texas. Milt’s children, at any age, remained an immense priority in his life. He was always there with unconditional love to help them through life’s trials. Milt had a great sense of humor and would always light up the room with one of his sayings.  Milt adored his 9 Grandchildren: Will Blankenship (Ayaka), Kate Follmann (Shane), Nick Harvin (Averi), Julianna Klika (Steven), Cory Pung (Hayley), Sean Blankenship, Sarah Blankenship, Robert Gowens (Liana), and Laura Jones (Nick). He had 6 great grandchildren Momo and Lilly Blankenship, Ryker and Rory Klika, Baker Pung, and Lyla Jones. Milt, “Papa”, had a huge heart and loved spending time with his family.  He would be the first to reach out and hold each new addition to the family.

Milt, also known as Skip to his childhood friends and family, was raised in La Crosse, Wisconsin. In high school, one summer at the swimming pool, he met Judy, the love of his life. Judy and Milt married on August 13, 1955. They were married 69 years! Two days after they married they boarded a train to Bay City, Michigan where he took a job with Dow Chemical and finished college at Central Michigan University with a degree in chemistry and mathematics. This was the beginning of their adventurous life together. They lived in many different places during his career with Dow Chemical. In 1955 he held various Research and Technical Service and Development positions until 1966, when he moved to Europe (Switzerland) as a group leader for Inorganic Chemicals, Solvents and Hydrocarbon Products. Upon returning to Midland, Michigan, in 1971, he was named group leader for Hydrocarbons and Resins Development in Dow U.S.A. He transferred to Texas in 1974 and became a Research Manager in the Organic Chemicals Department. In 1979, he assumed the position of R&D manager for Dow Australia. He was named senior research manager for the Australia region in 1980, and R&D director for Australia/New Zealand in 1983. He then moved to Hong Kong as the director of Business Development for the Asia region of Dow Pacific in 1984. In 1986, he moved back to Midland as the manager of Health and Environmental Sciences for the Polyurethanes Department. He then became the global director of Health, Environmental and Regulatory Affairs for Dow Plastics. Milt retired from Dow in 1993 after 38 years of service. Not long after retiring he took a job as Managing Director of International Isocyanate Institute, “Triple I.” This involved more travel and adventures around the world. He and Judy moved back home to La Crosse, WI where he eventually retired from Triple I. His love for the ocean and warmer weather took them to Florida where he enjoyed many years traveling the U.S. by RV, captaining his boat, fishing, golfing and teaching through the Auxiliary Coast Guard. Milt and Judy moved to Georgetown, Texas, in 2016 making it their third time to live in Texas. The Texas hill country was one of their favorite places. Milt’s love for life and family will live on through the countless memories and adventures he shared with his family and friends!