Polly Puckett Blankenbaker

Stoneville: Polly Puckett Blankenbaker, 81, of 561 Young Road, passed away on Tuesday, February 9, 2016, at her home. Memorial services will be held at 10:00 A.M., Friday, February 12, 2016, at Smyrna Presbyterian Church with Rev. Tom Wray officiating. Visitation for family and friends will be from 6-8 P.M., Thursday, February 11, 2016, at the church. Mrs. Blankenbaker was born on April 16, 1934, in Rockingham County, to the late Larnie Abraham Puckett, Sr. and Delia Pruitt Puckett. Polly was a lifetime member and former Elder of Smyrna Presbyterian Church. A 1952 graduate of Wentworth High School, she then attended Montreat-Anderson Presbyterian College where she received a degree in secretarial science. She spent most of her married life in Ras Tanura, Saudi Arabia, where she and husband Bill had all four of their children while working for ARAMCO. Polly spent 45 years working in sales and recruiting for Avon. She also was a long time member of the Order of the Amaranth where she served as a past Royal Matron. Polly Blankenbaker was a very strong, independent woman. At the age of 19 she fell in love with her pen pal, Bill, a lonely Okie in Saudi Arabia, and married him despite her family’s concerns. As a young bride, she moved to Saudi Arabia with her husband. During the next 10 years, she raised four children in a foreign country and flew around the world with them multiple times. In 1968, Polly and Bill bought a farm in Shiloh, NC, which they made their home after retiring from ARAMCO. Polly ran the farm, which included tobacco, livestock, and other cash crops. In 1971, her career in Avon began and she built it to a high level of leadership in her division. Along with her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Billy James Blankenbaker, grandson, Derek Lee Blankenbaker, and her siblings: Virginia P. Richardson, Elizabeth P. Lawson, Sallie P. Rakestraw, L. A. Puckett, Jr., Elaine P. Sharp, Richard Puckett, Alfred Puckett, and Donald Puckett. Polly is survived by her children, Cindy Coone and husband Bernie, Mona Farmer and husband Stanley, Sam Blankenbaker, and Dorothy Craddock and husband Lee; her grandchildren, Melodie F. Hennis (Daniel),Tracy F. Smith (Tracey), Brittany Blankenbaker, Bryan Coone, Journee Kidd, Lacey C. Allen, Chelsea Blankenbaker, Harlee Craddock and Jesse Craddock; eight great grandchildren; her siblings, Ruth P. McCollum and Lloyd Puckett; very special daughter, Missy Sullivan, and numerous nieces and nephews. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Smyrna Presbyterian Church, c/o Ann Dixon 291 Crowder Road, Madison, North Carolina 27025 or to Hospice of Rockingham County, P.O. Box 281, Wentworth, NC 27375. Wilkerson Funeral Home is assisting the family and condolences may be made to the family at www.wilkersonfuneral.com.