Kyleen "Judy" Blankenship, the eldest of three children, was born on September 10, 1940, to Martha and Kyle Oaks in San Diego, California. She passed away on August 24, 2021, from complications of pneumonia.

Judy was raised in Lemon Grove, California, and graduated from Helix High school in 1958. Upon graduation, she began her journey pursuing her lifelong passion when she was accepted to the Mercy College of Nursing.

Mercy Hospital, the oldest hospital in San Diego, was founded by the Catholic Sisters of Mercy in 1890. Judy told many stories about how strict the sisters were but that they were excellent teachers and mentors. They instilled in her ethical values and compassion when caring for patients that she carried with her throughout her career. Judy graduated with a 3-year diploma degree in nursing as an RN. During her nursing training, Dr. WB Jamison, an OB-GYN Physician who has been practicing in Lompoc for decades, was the "chief resident "in OB-GYN at Mercy during Judy's nursing training and they both landed in Lompoc years later.

After graduating from nursing school, Judy married Norman Kolish in 1961. In 1962 they welcomed their first child, Julie, and later in 1964 their son Curtis. Judy, her siblings, and her children were all born at Mercy Hospital. The family moved to El Paso Texas, then in 1967 moved to Lompoc, California, where Judy started her nursing career at Lompoc District Hospital. She started as a medical-surgical floor nurse and soon, with her compassion, excellent nursing skills, and leadership abilities became the department's charge nurse. Judy and Norman separated in 1973.

Judy later met her soulmate and the love of her life, Marvin "Marv" Blankenship, whom she married on February 8 ^th , 1975. Marv's children, Frank, and Sherry became a wonderful part of Judy's family that she truly loved and cherished. The family enjoyed many great, fun, and memorable times together. Judy loved the holidays, especially Christmas, and was famous for the many generous gifts she gave to everyone.

In the early 1980s, the Director of Nurses and Judy's dear friend, Mrs. Martha Hicks, recognized Judy's skills and leadership qualities and transferred Judy to the position of charge nurse of the ER. Judy was reluctant with her new position, but later found the move to be her true calling as an emergency room nurse and leader.

Judy was a teacher, friend, and mom to everyone she worked with and always let them know how important and appreciated they were. She loved to share her knowledge and compassion of nursing. Judy taught Advanced Cardiac life support and Basic Life support to nurses, Respiratory Therapists, and doctors alike. She was a great mentor to all the new graduating nurses and took them under her wing, giving them support and confidence. She became the ER Director at the original old Lompoc hospital and helped with planning and moving to the new hospital that opened on June 29 ^th , 2010.

Judy won awards from BETA healthcare Group for outstanding and safe care in the ER department. She received many accolades and awards for her support of the Crisis and Rape Center in Lompoc and for her support of the Santa Barbara County Emergency Medical Services.

Judy retired as the ER director in 2010. She missed working at the hospital so much that she returned to work as the day nursing house supervisor until retiring in 2013. Judy had many friends at the hospital that she truly loved and thought of as family.

Judy is preceded in death by her beloved husband, Marv Blankenship, her parents, Martha and Kyle Oaks, brother William Oaks, Grandson, Robert Kolish, and daughter-in-law Susan Blankenship.

She is survived by her loving children, Frank Blankenship, Sherry Cota (Raymond), Julie Victor (Shaun), and Curtis Kolish, and grandchildren: Christopher and Jeffery Blankenship (Jessica), Raymond Cota Jr. (Dawn), Frankie Cota (Nicole) Casey-Ann Hogue (Billy) and Kyle, Kelsey, and Corey Kolish. Great-grandchildren, Emma Cota, Jayden, Hayden, Cole and Brent Cota, Alicia Hogue and Rhodes Blankenship who was just born this September 11, just one day after Judy's birthday, sister Patricia Gano and nephew's Ken and Tim Winget, her beloved niece Gail Aldridge and family, numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and her best and oldest friend she worked with from 1967, who she adored, Jo Foster and her two fur babies Twitch and Sadie.

A viewing will be held on Friday, September 17, 2021, from 4-8 pm at Starbuck-Lind Mortuary Chapel.  Judy's graveside service will be held on Saturday, September 18, 2021, at 10:30 am at the Lompoc Evergreen Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, please donate to any of Judy's favorite charities; Lompoc hospital foundation, Saint Jude's Hospital, or any animal care rescue care mission, which she loved so much.