Melvin Blanton, 72, of Beattyville, died Friday, Sept. 13 2002. Born Nov. 11, 1929, in Oil Springs, a son of the late Ed and Ellen Fairchild Blanton, he was a retired supervisor with Ashland Oil Corp. Survivors include his wife, Fay Spencer Blanton of Beattyville; four sons, Larry Joe Blanton of Beattyville, Garry Dean Blanton of Owensboro, Melvin Blanton Jr., of Lexington, and Jerry Blanton of Morehead; two daughters, Shirley Ann Blanton of Orlando, Fla., and Debbie Botner of Beattyville; a brother, Jack Blanton of Oil Springs; a sister, Mary Cochran of Oil Springs; nine grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. Funeral services were Monday, Sept. 16, at Paintsville Funeral Home, with Elders Eulas Adams and Dewey McCarty officiating. Burial was in Williams Cemetery, Win, under direction of Paintsville Funeral Home.