Obit of Blakley, Ralph Francis - Pottawatomie County, Oklahoma Submitted by: Gene Phillips 09 Sep 2007 Return to Pottawatomie County Archives: http://www.usgwarchives.net/ok/pottawatomie/pottawatomie.htm ===================================================================== USGENWEB NOTICE Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm ===================================================================== ::Telophase Cremation Society--?? Blakley, Ralph Francis Jan. 18, 1921-Jan. 16, 2007 Ralph Francis Blakley, 85, of La Mesa died Jan. 16. He was born in Shawnee, Okla., and was retired from the federal government. He was retired from the Navy and was a veteran of World War II. He was a member of the Fleet Reserve Association and the U.S.S. Saratoga Association. Survivors include his daughters, Kathleen Serrano of La Mesa and Terri Blakley of San Diego; sister, Marian Edwards of Midwest City, Okla.; five grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren. Services: pending. Donations: American Lung Association, 2750 Fourth Ave., San Diego, CA 92103. Arrangements: Telophase Cremation Society. Published in the San Diego Union-Tribune on 1/31/2007. ========= Blakley, Ralph Francis Jan. 18, 1921-Jan. 16, 2007 Ralph Francis Blakley, 85, of La Mesa died Jan. 16. He was born in Shawnee, Okla., and was retired from the Navy. He served in World War II and was a member of the Fleet Reserve Association and the USS Saratoga Association CV-3. Survivors include his daughters, Kathleen Serrano of La Mesa and Terri Blakley of San Diego; sister, Marian Edwards of Midwest City, Okla.; five grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; and one great- great grandchild. Services: 4:30 p.m. Feb. 10, La Mesa Presbyterian Church, 4426 Harbison Ave., La Mesa. Donations: American Lung Association, 2750 Fourth Ave., San Diego, CA 92103. Arrangements: Telophase Cremation Society. Published in the San Diego Union-Tribune on 2/1/2007. ========= Blakley, Ralph Francis BLAKLEY, RALPH FRANCIS Ralph Francis Blakley was born in Shawnee, Oklahoma on January 18, 1921 and died three days short of his 86th birthday on January 15, 2007. Ralph enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1939 and was on active duty for 20 years, serving in WWII aboard the USS Saratoga. After completing his tour of duty, he retired as a Chief Petty Officer and went to work for the Gestetner Corporation. He then worked in Production Control at North Island Naval Air Station, San Diego from 1961-1976. He was on the ACMA committee that was instrumental in the creation of the U.S. Naval Aircraft Carrier Obelisk at the old "Navy Fleet Landing" in San Diego, was active with the USS Saratoga Reunion Group and a member of The Fleet Reserve Association, Branch 61, in Chula Vista. His old shipmates were a very important part of his life. In 1943, Ralph met the love of his life, Mary Elizabeth "Bobbie" Hamilton, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They were married in 1944 and remained in love for 58 years, until her death in 2002. He was a terrific role model for everyone he met. He was interested in people of all ages, cultures and opinions. He loved reading, learning new things, music, gardening, travel, current events and his beloved crossword puzzles! He had a twinkle in his eye, a great wit, and was charming, gracious, warm and kind to everyone. He was a generous person, giving much of himself to his family and friends. He donated faithfully to many organizations that he felt would benefit world and local health related research, conservation, wildlife, veterans of the armed forces and those less fortunate in need. He will be missed so much by all who knew him well. He was a loving husband, father, grandfather, great- grandfather, great-great-grandfather, uncle and friend. He was preceded in death by his wife of 58 years, Bobbie Blakley; a son, Ralph Emerson Blakley; his parents, two brothers and three sisters. He is survived by his two daughters, Kathy Serrano (Lenny) of La Mesa and Terri Blakley (Mark Reynolds) of San Diego; his sister Marion Edwards of Midwest City, OK; granddaughters, Kristine Starkey of San Diego, Julee Ramnath (Rick) of Melbourne, FL, Kathleen Olson (Charlie) of Chadds Ford, PA, Cindy Selkow of Palm Harbor, FL, and grandson John Lynch (Judy) of West Chester, PA; great-grandchildren, Chad, Brittani and Chase Starkey, Talena, Brianna and Brooke Ramnath, Lisa Olson Halladay (Andrew), Darren and Lauren Olson, Justin Selkow Russum (Martin), Bethany and John Selkow, Kaleigh, Kelly Ann and Molly Lynch, and great-great-grandson, Jack Harris Halladay; as well as numerous nieces and nephews. A celebration of Ralph's life will be held at the La Mesa Presbyterian Church, 4426 Harbinson Avenue, La Mesa, California, on Saturday, February 10, 2007, at 4:30 p.m. Family and friends are invited to attend. If desired, please make a donation to the American Lung Association, American Heart Association or a charity of your choice in lieu of flowers.Please sign the guest at obituaries.uniontrib.com Published in the San Diego Union-Tribune on 2/9/2007. --------------------------------------------------------------------- Return to Pottawatomie County Archives: http://www.usgwarchives.net/ok/pottawatomie/pottawatomie.htm