Emma Lee Vedder

Emma Lee (Blankenship) Vedder, of 126 Rockwell Drive, Ilion passed away Sunday night, January 7, 2024 at Little Falls Hospital, Little Falls, New York while in the skilled care of Attending Physician David Almeleh, MD (aka “Doctor Dave”) and the caring and highly professional hospital third floor nursing staff.  Emma had been in declining health for the past several months.  Her beloved daughters Cherie, Terri, and her  supportive pastor and steady religious advisor Mr. Gregg Sponburgh were by her side. 

Emma was born April 6, 1933 in Bedford, Bedford County, Virginia, daughter of the late Edgar and Ruth (Farley) Blankenship.  She was raised in Bedford, Virginia and was graduated from Bedford High School, Class of 1951.  Emma then enlisted in the U.S. Army, Women’s Army Corps, completing basic training at Fort Lee, Petersburg, Virginia.  She then trained as a medical technician at Fort Sam Houston, San Antonio, Texas.  Following graduation from Medical Service School, Emma was transferred to 2^nd General Hospital at Landstuhl, Germany, where she served two and a half years with the Army of Occupation Forces.  Emma was Honorably Discharged from Army service in May 1955 with the rank of corporal.  She was awarded the Army Good Conduct Medal, the  Army of Occupation Service Medal with Germany Clasp, and the National Defense Service Medal.

Emma was previously married to Mr. James Frederick Bala, Sr., formally of Ilion, New York and Hudson, Florida.  The couple has three children.  Jim passed away in 1997.

On May 17, 1986, Emma was married in Mohawk, New York to the love of her life Lawrence Elvie “Larry” Vedder of Newport, New York.  The happy two-decade union lasted until Larry's untimely passing in February 2006.  Emma has been a resident of Ilion since 1955, removed to this village following her military service.  She furthered her military medical training by graduating from the Herkimer County Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) Program.  Emma was employed for many years as a nurse with Mohawk Valley General Hospital, Ilion, New York.  She is a life member of Ilion-Frankfort Veterans Memorial Post 502 of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, and a life member of Disabled American Veterans, General Herkimer Chapter 160, Herkimer, New York.  Emma is a proud member of Military Women Across The Nation, Leatherstocking Unit #26, where she enjoyed the very fine periodic organization meetings and fellowship with many local female military veteran members.  Special former military women include retired Navy Chief Petty Officer Mary Erin Blair, Ms. Crystal Hicks, and Ms. Claire Allison.  Emma was also a contributing member of the Women of the Moose organization of Ilion, New York.

Survivors include one son, James Fredrick “Jamie” Bala Jr. of Helena, Montana; two daughters, Cherie (Bala) Brown and her husband Ray of Ilion, New York, and Terri Lee Bala and her husband Dave of Mohawk, New York; two sisters, Martha (Blankenship) Edwards and her husband Marvin of Bedford, Virginia, and Eleanor Blankenship of College Park, Maryland; two granddaughters, Elizabeth (Brown) Yourdon and her husband Ferris of Keeseville, New York, Stephanie (Brown) Krick and her husband Donovan of Frankfort, New York; nine great-grandchildren, several nieces, nephews, cousins and many family in-laws.  Emma was predeceased by her first husband, James F. Bala Sr. of Florida; by her second husband, Larry E. Vedder of Ilion, New York; two brothers, Howard Sherman Blankenship and Thomas Hardy Blankenship formally of Bedford County, Virginia; and, one sister, Ms. Rebecca Ann (Blankenship) Goad formally of Bedford County, Virginia.

The family owned Mohawk Valley Funerals and Cremations, 7507 State Route 5, Little Falls (315-508-5131) is entrusted with final arrangements.  Graveside services with military honors will be held in the spring at the convenience of the family where interment will take place with her beloved husband Larry Vedder at the Vedder family plot, Oak Hill Cemetery, West German Street, Herkimer, New York.  Memorial services will be officiated by Pastor Gregg Sponburgh, of Paines Hollow United Methodist Church and the officers and members of VFW Memorial Post 502.  A muster of VFW Post 502 members is scheduled at the Oak Hill Cemetery interment site to administer the VFW deceased veteran memorial ritual. The ladies of the Military Women Across The Nation Unit shall also observe a graveside deceased member memorial ritual.  Memorial donations to Emma's memory may be made directly to the Paines Hollow United Methodist Church, Paines Hollow, New York.