Ouachita County Louisiana Archives Obituaries.....BLAKE, RICHARD E. JR.  September 30, 2012
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Gina Brown rootsgirl36@gmail.com October 27, 2012, 8:58 pm

News Star World - October 03 ,2012
RICHARD E. JR. BLAKE

Funeral services for Richard E. Blake, Jr. will be held Thursday, October 4 at 
10:00 AM at Crestview Baptist Church in Farmerville, Louisiana with Rev. Wayne 
Whiteside officiating. Mr. Blake passed away at age 88 on Sunday, September 30 
after a brief illness.

Mr. Blake, a long-time resident of Shreveport, LA had lived in Farmerville, LA 
for the past eight years. He was born in Olla, Louisiana and after graduating 
from high school there he enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps in March 1943. 
Assigned to the 547th Night Fighter Squadron as a P-61 "Black Widow" Crew 
Chief, Blake participated in the Western Pacific Air Offensive in New Guinea, 
Southern Philippines and Luzon campaigns. His decorations and citations 
include the American Theater Medal, Asiatic Pacific Theater Medal with 4 
Bronze Stars and the Philippine Liberation Medal with 1 Bronze Star.

Maintaining his commitment to serving his country after WWII, Blake received a 
commission in the U.S. Army reserves where he became a pilot and rose to the 
rank of Lieutenant Colonel. During his decades of service, he amassed over 
20,000 hours of flying time in both fixed-wing and helicopter aircraft and was 
designated as a Master Army Aviator. He was also designated an Army flight 
instructor and an instrument pilot examiner. In addition to his military 
aviation experience, Blake owned and operated a flight school and aircraft 
dealership. His FAA ratings include Airline Transport, Multi-Engine, Flight 
Instructor-Airplane, Instrument and Helicopter, and an Airframe and Powerplant 
Maintenance rating. He was also an FAA designated pilot examiner.

Far greater commitments held by Mr. Blake were to his God and his family. He 
was a long-time Baptist deacon and devoted servant of God in his church and 
community.

He was a faithful husband to Marie who preceded him in death and was a loving 
father to his four sons who remain to carry on his legacy. The sons are 
Richard L. (Cleburne, TX), James R. (Marion, LA), Jerry W. (Graham, TX), and 
Bobby J. (Eugene, OR). Also remaining is a brother, Joe B. Blake, 11 
grandchildren, 17 great grandchildren, 4 great great grandchildren, and a host 
of nieces and nephews.

Following the memorial service a military honors interment will take place at 
the Crestview cemetery.

Visitation will be held on Wednesday, October 3, 2012 from 6:00 PM until 8:00 
PM at Kilpatrick Funeral Home in Farmerville, LA.



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