David Eugene Blanks, 75, Festus

David “Dave” Eugene Blanks died July 10, 2022. Mr. Blanks graduated from De Soto School District in 1966, took courses at Jefferson College in Hillsboro and was drafted into the Army during the Vietnam War. He worked at Pittsburg Plate Glass in Crystal City, Missouri Pacific Railroad in De Soto and Baldor Electric in Kirkwood before retiring. He was a member of Mt. Olive Baptist Church in Crystal City, the American Legion and the VFW. He enjoyed fishing, gardening, cars and vacationing with his wife. Born April 27, 1947, in De Soto, he was the son of the late Dorothy Carter and Albert Leroy Blanks.

He is survived by his wife of 48 years: Carolyn Louise Hunt, who he married in May 1974. He also is survived by a son: Sheldon Emmonse (Anya) Blanks of Fremont, Calif.; goddaughter Ursula Calvin of Atlanta, Ga.; 10 grandchildren; 20 great-grandchildren; three siblings: Diana (Gregory) Blanks Nance of Dayton, Ohio, Donna Blanks Fluker of Florissant and Raymond Garland (Helen) Blanks of Potosi; five sisters-in-law: Cassandra Blanks of Herculaneum, Iris Blanks of Cahokia, Ill., Wilma Blanks of De Soto, Gwen Swain of Cherryville, N.J., and Rene (Howard) Woods of Chicago Heights, Ill.; a brother-in-law: Bishop Gus (Ladora) Swain of Swinburne, N.J.; and many other family members and friends.

He was preceded in death by a daughter: Eugenia Smith; three brothers: Curtis Edward, James Albert and Brian Keith Blanks; a grandmother: Josephine Elliott; and two brothers-in-law: John Fluker and Hal Swain.

Visitation will be from 5-8 p.m. Wednesday, July 20, at Mahn Twin City Chapel, 515 Collins Ave., in Festus. A ceremony will be at 10 a.m. Thursday, July 21, at the chapel. Burial will be in the National Cemetery at Jefferson Barracks. Arrangements are under the direction of Mahn Funeral Homes.