Anita Dungan

Anita Blankenship Dungan of Rio Rancho age 77, passed into the next life on 29 October 2024. She worked as a computer programmer and supervisor after retiring from the U.S. Forest Service in Albuquerque. She also served in other government agencies, notably the Weather Bureau's 'National Ice Center' in Suitland, Maryland. While there she programed satellites to track floating sea ice. While there she was known as 'The Ice Lady." Prior to that, she worked for the National Science Foundation. Anita was also known locally for a time as 'the cookie lady of Rio Rancho,' donating her baked goods to the Fire Department, Police Department, the Colorado Mountain Library, and several other places.

At home, Anita loved to cook and bake and do needlework. She also loved to hike and travel. She always had a lively sense of humor and a ready wit.

Anita was the daughter of John M. and Ida (Asbury) Blankenship of War, West Virginia. Anita is survived by her sister Karen Paige Johnson of Tazewell, Virginia, and brothers Tom Blankenship of Pope, Mississippi, and Bret M. Blankenship of Bristol, Tennessee.

Anita was recently proceeded in death by an older sister, Shelby Jean Hicks, of Prince Frederick, Maryland who was killed in an auto accident in September. Older brothers and sisters also proceeded her in death.

Anita was married 57 years ago at St. John's Episcopal Church in Mt. Rainier, Maryland, to her husband, Thomas P. Dungan, who survives her; as do their sons, John P Dungan of Cypress, Texas, and Brian S. Dungan of Lake Havasu, Arizona. She is also survived by two grandchildren, Jilian E. Dungan and Jake R. Dungan, both of Temecula, California.