Emmitt Blankenfeld

Emmitt Elon Blankenfeld passed away on 22 September 2020 after a multi-year battle with Alzheimer’s disease. He is survived by his devoted children, Barton, Dana and Brett (Steve Corey), and two grandchildren, Kristen and Allison Corey. He was preceded in death by Darlynne (Skip), his loving wife of 65 years.

Emmitt was born in 1929 near Canby, Minnesota. He was the second of eight children of Emmitt and Myrtle Blankenfeld. He spent his early years on a farm. His birth year coincided with the beginning of the Great Depression and financial circumstances during his early life were difficult. Emmitt had to leave school after the tenth grade to help support his family. He was a truck driver immediately prior to enlisting in the U.S. Navy in 1949, at age 20.

Emmitt made a thirty-year career out of the Navy. He served aboard the USS Compton (DD705), USS Van Valkenburg (DD656), USS Pine Island (AV12), USS Locator (AGR6), and USS Ticonderoga (CVA14). In addition to his sea duty assignments, he was stationed at naval bases in Norman, Oklahoma; Beeville, Texas; Pearl Harbor, Hawaii; San Diego, California; and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He moved up through the enlisted ranks and during his second reenlistment, while stationed in Hawaii, he was commissioned as an Ensign, in the Navy Supply Corps.

In 1954, Emmitt met and married his wife Skip, who had also grown up in the Canby area and had attended high school with several of his siblings. Children followed in 1955, 1959 and 1963. As is common for those who serve in the military, Emmitt, Skip, and their growing family moved to new locations every couple years.

During his Navy career, Emmitt attended and graduated from the Officer Candidate School in Newport, R.I.; the Navy Supply Corps School in Athens, Georgia; and the U.S. Naval War College in Newport, R.I. While at the War College, Emmitt attended the University of Rhode Island, and by building on college credits already earned from night courses and the College Level Examination Program, was able to graduate with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science in 1972.

Emmitt continued to progress through the commissioned officer USN ranks and in 1978, at the end of a posting in San Diego, retired as a Commander. His decorations and medals included the Secretary of the Navy Achievement Medal, Distinguished Service Medal 2nd Class, Good Conduct Medal with 3 stars, Vietnam Campaign Medal with device 1960, Navy Commendation, Navy Unit Commendation, National Defense Service Medal with 1 star, Vietnam Service Medal with 2 stars, and Expeditionary Medal (Korea).

After Navy retirement Emmitt accepted a job at Hughes Aircraft Company in the Los Angeles area. He and Skip made their final move to the house they bought in Rancho Palos Verdes. As was true in the Navy, Emmitt thrived at Hughes Aircraft and immensely enjoyed his work, even with its intermittent cycles of frustration and progress. One theme that was consistent through Emmitt’s entire life was his committed work ethic and his ability to extract satisfaction from a work regimen that might make others discontented or indifferent.

Emmitt retired from Hughes Aircraft in 1992 and Skip decided that this was also an opportune moment for her to retire from her real estate career. The two were able to enjoy a very long and happy retirement. They did an enviable amount of travelling both with family and with friends from their church in Palos Verdes. There were yearly trips to Cabo San Lucas and Fort Walton Beach, Florida. There were tours all over Europe, the Far East and Australia, and cruises to Alaska, Mexico and South America. There were family vacations in Maui and Kauai as well as road trips through the western states and Canada.

Emmitt and Skip also gave of themselves in retirement. They were active participants in their church, St. Peter’s by the Sea in Rancho Palos Verdes. Emmitt served on the Mission committee at St. Peter’s and during this time helped initiate the Together in Education task force that focused on serving the San Pedro Latino community. As part of this effort, the church adopted the 15th Street Elementary School in San Pedro. Emmitt set up the volunteer program for tutoring the school’s students and parents. He and other St. Peter’s members also helped build a new library for the school and made sure that every student received a book as a Christmas present each year.

Emmitt was also deeply involved with and served on the board of Harbor Interfaith Services, whose mission is to empower the homeless and working poor to obtain self-sufficiency by providing shelter, transitional housing and food, as well as job placement, advocacy, childcare education and life skills training services. He found great enjoyment strapping on a tool belt and working at Harbor Interfaith and Habitat for Humanity building sites. He got into a little bit of trouble with Skip after she found out he had been working on the top of roofs.

Emmitt and Skip became grandparents in 1995 and again in 2000. They loved Kristen and Allison more than anything and loved caring for and seeing them whenever possible. Most family Christmases took place at their home in Palos Verdes.

As Emmitt entered his eighties, it gradually became apparent that he was experiencing the early stages of Alzheimer’s. He reluctantly gave up his work on the Mission committee but continued to attend church. He remained at home and tried very hard to remain occupied and useful. By 2016, though, his disease had progressed such that he needed to move into an assisted living facility. There he enjoyed activities and fellowship until the further progression of his disease required his transfer to a board and care home. There he received the more intensive care he now needed. Skip remained devoted to Emmitt and oversaw his care until her sudden passing two months before him.
Although his family is crushed by his passing, they are happy knowing that Emmitt and Skip are reunited in heaven. Emmitt was a great husband, father, grandfather, brother, friend and human. He was always there for his wife and children, always available to provide reassurance and sage advice. He was a model to his children who always envied his energy, work ethic, commitment and positive outlook. He will be loved and missed forever.

No services are planned. Donations to the Alzheimer’s Association (Alz.org) in Emmitt and Darlynne’s memory would be appreciated but not expected. This memorial page provides an opportunity for viewers to share their own reminiscences and pictures of Emmitt and the family welcomes any such postings.


Family and friends of Emmitt are invited to share their favorite photos, video memories and heart felt messages on his Tribute page on the Green Hills Mortuary Website.