Martha E. Blank, 78, of Salem and formerly of Olney, died Saturday, April 23, 2011, at Doctors Nursing & Rehab Center in Salem.

Mrs. Blank was born February 5, 1933, in Olney, the daughter of Earnest Milton and Caroline Sophia (Drewes) Kesler.

She married Paul John Blank on February 14, 1956. He preceded her in death on December 8, 1998.

She was a homemaker. She was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church in Olney.

Mrs. Blank is survived by her daughter, Carolyn Harper and her husband, Jon, of Iuka; daughter, Marilyn Branson and her husband, Paul, of Salem; daughter, Linda Tolliver, of Newton; daughter, Nancy Ulrich and her husband, Robert, of Sumner; daughter, Diann Perry and her husband, Gene, of Iuka; son, John Blank, of Gillespie; grandchildren, Staci Harper, Kim Clevy, Danny Harper, Chuck Branson, James Branson, Shawn Branson, Heather McKinney, Jessica Kline, Jennifer Grimes, Christopher Ulrich, Beth Perry, Elisabeth Schenk-Blank, Dawn Dobbs, Tonia Waters and John Robert Ulrich; several great-grandchildren; and sister, Marilyn Schneiter.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Earnest Milton and Caroline Sophia Kesler; husband, Paul John Blank; and brothers, Vernon Kesler and Robert Kesler.

Published in Olney Daily Mail (IL) - Monday, April 25, 2011