Former Bishop of Cuba Dies
Diocesan Press Service. July 28, 1975 [75266]
RICHMOND, Va. -- The Rt. Rev. Alexander Hugo Blankingship, Bishop of the Missionary Diocese of Cuba from 1939 to his retirement in 1961, died in Richmond, his native city, on July 21.
The bishop was a graduate of the University of Richmond and attended Yale Divinity School. He was graduated in 1926 from Virginia Theological Seminary. He was awarded honorary degrees by the seminary and the University of Richmond.
Bishop Blankingship, 80, was the last American to serve as Bishop of Cuba. The funeral service was held at St. John's Episcopal Church in Richmond with burial in the churchyard.
About 300 persons participated in the service, led by four bishops and with the presence of most of the clergy of the city and many friends of the bishop. At the request of the family, the lesson of St. John was read in Spanish by the Rev. Oscar Gonzalez, of the Diocese of Newark, who also represented his brother, the Rt. Rev. Jose A. Gonzalez, present Bishop of Cuba. The Rev. Joaquin Valdes and a group of lay persons, formerly of Cuba, were also present in the service.
Bishop Blankingship is survived by his wife, Mrs. Antoinette Woodward Blankingship, of Richmond; a daughter, Mrs. Antoinette Donovan of Charlottesville; two sons, Wyatt L. Blankingship of New Orleans and A. Hugo Blankingship, Jr., of Fairfax, and seven grandchildren.