Robert Blake's Obituary
Robert Paul Blake, age 96, passed away on Sunday, April 12, 2020 at Autumn Care of Cornelius in Cornelius, North Carolina.
Robert (Bobby) was born on October 5, 1923 in Biloxi, Mississippi, son of the late Sarah Mary and Edward John Blake of Biloxi, MS. He was born and raised in Biloxi, Mississippi and always called Biloxi his home. He served in the Navy during WWII as an aviation metal smith second class. A highlight during this time was when he went to France to service a plane, and he was able to go to Rome and was served communion by the Pope.
After Robert's stint in the Navy, he was working in Biloxi as night auditor at the Buena Vista Hotel when his future wife and 2 of her girlfriends arrived late for check-in. They hit it off right away and after several years of long-distance dating, they got married in 1956 and settled in Memphis where Sue lived. They moved to Ocean Springs and in 1961, their "miracle" baby boy arrived. A couple of years later, they moved back to Memphis and Robert began his career as a car salesman. He worked his way to Sales Manager at Charlie Kittle Pontiac until the untimely death of its owner. Robert wanted his own dealership and the family moved to Mayfield, Ky in 1973. Bob Blake Pontiac flourished until GM decided to downsize the small dealers. He had to close his business but then went to work in Murray, Ky selling cars at a dealership there.
Robert wanted to try a used car lot on his own and moved back ‘home’ to Biloxi, MS. There was too much competition and after 4 years had to close his lot. Sue and Robert moved back to Murray where he worked for a car dealer and Sue spent most of her time caring for her mother. After a several years, they decided to move back to Memphis. Robert was still selling cars and did so until he retired. He had a brief stint with a concession business, WRT Enterprises, until he sold it and fully retired.
In late 2012, Sue and Robert moved to Pearl, MS to be closer to their grandkids. They moved to Jackson to a 55+ secure apartment building in 2015, even closer to his grandkids. When Sue went into a nursing home, Robert moved in with his daughter, Deborah and her family. When Sue passed, Robert moved to live with his son, Michael and his wife Si. In mid 2019, he moved into The Crossings which is an assisted living community. He was happy there until he developed pneumonia in March 2020 which led to his demise.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife of 60 years, Sue Blake; 2 brothers, Edward Blake of Hattiesburg, MS and Walton Blake of DeKalb, GA; 3 sisters, Verna Jané of Phoenix, AZ, Jewel Elder of Kingwood, TX (former long-time Biloxi, MS resident), and Mary Kelly of Pascagoula, MS.
Survivors include his brother, Louis Blake of San Diego, CA; son, Michael Blake and wife, Si of Tega Cay, SC; daughter, Deborah Henderson and husband Aaron of Canton, MS; grandchildren, Will Sigh and wife Lauren, Rachel Sigh and fiancé Jacob Wooten, Tucker Sigh, Aaron Henderson and wife Allison, Amanda Pate and husband Russ and several nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be at 10:00 on Friday, April 17 at Wright & Ferguson funeral home in Clinton, MS. Also, a memorial service for family members only will be held at 11:30. This will be followed by a burial at the Mississippi Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Newton, MS. In accordance with CDC recommendations due to the coronavirus pandemic, it is respectfully requested that funeral attendees be limited to family and closest friends. We unfortunately are limited to 15 total attendees. Please know that he loved each of you and we hate to not be able to let you be a part of the service.
The family wishes to express their sincerest thanks to the special friends and caregivers who loved and supported Robert and the family during his illness.
James Funeral Home served the family locally.
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