Nellie Mae Blankenship Persun Ettling, 95, of South Point, OH, formerly of Huntington, WV, passed away peacefully at Wyngate Assisted Living Home in Proctorville, Ohio on Tuesday, November 25th, 2025. She was born July 20th, 1930 in Huntington, WV. The eldest of 13 children born to Leona Cazad Blankenship and Reece Lawrence Blankenship of Upper Heath Creek in Barboursville, WV. She was educated at Barboursville High School and Marshall College and was a member of Spring Valley Presbyterian Church, where she was a member of the choir and was an elder. She was a long time supporter of the Huntington Symphony Orchestra and a chair plaque has been placed in honor of her memory at the historic Keith Albee Theater in downtown Huntington. She worked as a manager for Joann Fabrics and later for JC Penney in the Huntington Mall, where she retired as the lead men's clothing salesperson. She was preceded in death by her second husband, Henry "Spike" Ettling; both parents; brothers, Walt, Sam, Jim, and Carl Blankenship; by her sister, Ann Shull, and more recently by another sister, Irene English; and her mother-in-law, Ruth Ettling. She is survived by her children, Frances Adkins (Kenney) of Huntington, WV, John Persun, Jr. (Linda) of Ona, WV, Margaret Fillinger (Dan) of Huntington, WV, and Bob (Deby) of Holly Ridge, NC; grandchildren, Kenney Ray Adkins of Columbus, Ohio, Erin Persun (Philip Garrett) of Ceredo, WV, Nick Adkins (Haley Linville), Kassie Dudding (Brandon) of Huntington, WV, Andre Persun (Tammy) of Sneads Ferry, NC, and Mariah Smith (Cooper) of Hampstead, NC; great-grandchildren, Teighan Garrett, Elijah Garrett, River Dudding, Eden Dudding, Robin Adkins, Magnolia (Maggie) Adkins, and Sylvi Smith; brothers Paul and Boyd Blankenship; sisters, Dorothy Chapman, Elsie Carico, Erma Finley, Rosemary Collins, and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins. Her grandchildren and great- grandchildren all will affectionately remember her as "Ma Nellie." A Celebration of Life will be conducted at 5 p.m. Saturday, May 30, 2026 at the Wallace Funeral Home & Chapel, Barboursville. Visitation will be from 4 to 5 p.m. prior to the service. Online condolences may be expressed to the family at www.timeformemory.com/wallace. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the American Heart Association or The American Cancer Society in Nellie's honor.
