Thomas Michael Blanks, Sr. Obituary

1939-2026

Thomas Michael (“Mike”) Blanks, Sr., 86, of Richmond, Virginia, passed away at his home on Saturday, July 18, 2026.

He was born on December 9, 1939, in Mecklenburg County, Virginia to Virginia Tuck Blanks and Keister Boyd Blanks.  He spent his childhood in Clarksville, Virginia and loved boating, fishing  and time spent at Buggs Island Lake in Mecklenburg County.  He graduated from Bluestone High School, where he played football and where he met his beloved wife of 66 years, Louise Jenkins Blanks. After marrying right after his wife graduated from high school, they moved to Richmond, Virginia, where they continued to reside. 

He went to work at the age of eighteen for Richmond Paper Company. He worked his way up to becoming a paper salesman to printing companies, school systems  and government agencies. He thoroughly enjoyed his work and his relationships built through many years with the owners of his printing company customers which often were generational companies. He received an award at an award ceremony just for him when he reached fifty years of working in the paper business.  He continued to work full time selling paper until he was eighty-one years old when he reluctantly retired.

He enjoyed time spent with family most of all in life including time spent boating and fishing on the Chesapeake Bay with family and friends for many years. He enjoyed the beach and time spent with his children and grandchildren in their various sports, music, dance, cheering and other activities. He and his wife Louise’s home was always the primary gathering place for holidays and family events.

He was predeceased by his parents,  his older brother, Keister Boyd Blanks, Jr., and his younger brother, Tony Page Blanks, who was a decorated Marine that lost his life in the Vietnam War. He is survived by his wife, Louise Jenkins Blanks, and his younger sister, Gloria Graye Blanks Wilburn; his children, Thomas Michael Blanks, Jr. and David Edward Blanks and his wife Marie  Hollomon Blanks of Richmond, Virginia; and his grandchildren he adored, Thomas Michael Blanks, III of New York City, Ainsley Elizabeth Blanks of Melbourne, Florida, Corey  Michael Blanks of Arlington, Virginia and Sydney Elizabeth Blanks of Richmond, Virginia.

There will be a private celebration of his life with family only.