Bio

Ruth is a graduate of Emory and Henry College with a BS and is a graduate of Virginia Tech with an MA in Accounting. Before coming to Bluefield College she worked for Brown Edwards and Company as an auditor. Ruth is married to John Blankenship, a Virginia Cooperative Extension Agent and they have a nine year old son, Matthew. The Blankenships live in the farming community of Thompson Valley and participate in running the family farm.  Ruth is an active member of the Pleasant Hill United Methodist Church, a member of the Tazewell County Fair Board of Directors, a member of the Thompson Valley Fire and Rescue Auxiliary, Bluefield (Virginia) Rotary, a Tazewell County 4-H Volunteer and has represented Virginia 4-H regionally and nationally. Ruth is active in working to seek economic development for this region by serving on Bluefield, Virginia’s Economic Development Authority and is chairwoman for the Southwest Virginia Workforce Investment Board.  Ruth and her family enjoy spending their spare time on South Holston Lake.