Willis L. Blanton, 64, of Otway, died Tuesday, October 16, 2007, at his residence.

Willis was born July 26, 1943, in Portsmouth, to the late Daniel Boone and Lila Marie Blanton, who survives. Willis had retired from Service Steel in Detroit, Mich. Willis was preceeded in death by one sister, Lorraine Lemaster; and two brothers. George “Danny” Blanton and Edward Blanton.

Willis is survived by his wife, Venus Parker Blanton, whom he married Sept. 20, 1961, in Scioto County; two sons, Willis Lee Blanton Jr., of Otway, and James Daniel Blanton, of Buffalo, N.Y.; one daughter, Vicki (Richard) Turner, of Quaker City, Ohio; five brothers, Lenzie, David, Leroy and Ronnie Blanton, of Marion, Ohio, and David Blanton, of Piketon, Ohio; four sisters, Ema Blanton, Stella Otworth and Kathy Blevins, of Marion, Ohio, and Katie Jackson, of Tacoma, Wash.; nine grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.

Funeral services will be 2 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 21, 2007, at Pine Grove Freewill Baptist Church in Lucasville, with Pastor Larry Hammond officiating and interment in Scioto Burial Park. Friends may call at Roger W. Davis Funeral Home in West Portsmouth from 6 to 8 p.m. Saturday and at the church one hour before the services Sunday.

Condolences may be sent to www.rogerwdavisfuneral home.com.

10/19/07