West Lafayette – Donette Ruth Blanks-Lung, age 53 of West Lafayette, died unexpectedly in IU Health Hospital, Lafayette, Tuesday, December 9, 2014. She was born in Fort Wayne on February 1, 1961, daughter of the late Donald and Willa Beasley Blanks. She married Dennis Lung on May 5, 1990 in Las Vegas and he survives.

Donette graduated from South Side High School in Ft. Wayne, where she won numerous awards for public speaking. She received a B.A. in Communications from Indiana-Purdue /Fort Wayne and a M.F.A. in Theater from West Virginia University. Her theater roles included; Fraulein Schneider in Cabaret, Corie in Barefoot in the Park and several parts in, For Colored Girls, which she received accolades from the play's author.

Family and friends appreciated her humor and charisma. She had a love for education and expressed that love by homeschooling her children. She also loved theater and assisted in directing plays for her church. Donette enjoyed her birds, documentaries, history and knitting.

Surviving along with her husband Dennis Lung in West Lafayette, are: a daughter Miranda Lung, two sons, Dmitri and Dominic Lung all of West Lafayette. Two sisters; Kameron (David) Wallace and Shannon Blanks (companion Melissa Balfour) all of Ft. Wayne. She was preceded in death by her parents.

Her family will greet guests, 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. Wednesday, December 17, 2014 at Family and Friends Funeral Home of Wingate (9700 State Road 55, Wingate). Funeral services will begin at 7:00 p.m. with Pastor Brian Moore officiating. To accommodate Dennis' late shift Subaru associates, he will greet them at the funeral home, Wednesday, noon -1:00 p.m. Cremation will follow, her service Memorial contributions may be made to the Lung Children Education Fund, with envelopes available at the funeral home. To share a memory or leave a condolence visit us at www.familyandfriendsfh.com