David Edsel Blankenship, 61 years of age, died on August 12, 2025, at his residence in Aransas Pass, Texas.  

Born September 8, 1963, in Baltimore, Maryland, he was the son of the late John Franklin Blankenship, Sr. and Susan Harris Blankenship.  He grew up in Houston, TX, and worked for several years in Florida before making his way to Gonzales County.  There, he spent several years honing his skills as an expert cabinet and furniture builder harvesting various types of trees and processing them into usable lumber.  He was still harvesting lumber and building cabinets, tables and furniture until his untimely death.  David was also the owner of Tidelands Piers and Bulkheads, LLC having built piers, boat lifts, docks, boat houses as well as numerous custom homes along the Texas Gulf Coast.  He was an avid hunter in Texas and Oklahoma, boat Captain, and fisherman being particularly fond of offshore snapper fishing.  Many summer weekends were spent taking friends fishing off shore and then to dinner to cook their fresh catch. His favorite gig was to host a big fish fry and crawfish boil for his friends and neighbors.  David was a friend and mentor to many along the coast. 

David was preceded in death by his parents and grandparents.

He is survived by his sister: Suzanne Elizabeth Blankenship; brother: John Franklin Blankenship, Jr. (Sandy), and stepmother: Freda Fortuna Blankenship; numerous cousins, including Lueretha Gainey (John) of Maryland; and his special friend: Christi Caraway Dixon.  

A celebration of David’s life will be held on Thursday, August 28, 2025, 10:00 A.M at the Resthaven Funeral Home Chapel, Aransas Pass. Interment will be in St. Mark’s Cemetery, Perryville, Maryland.

Guestbook available online at www. resthavenfunerals.com

Arrangements and care entrusted to Resthaven Funeral Home, Aransas Pass.