Irvin Cleckley Blake

Irvin C. Blake died peacefully of natural causes at his summer home in Charlottesville on Sept. 2, 2015. Irv was born in Calhoun Falls, SC on July 11, 1918 to Hallie May Byrd and Wilbur Johnson Blake and remained a true Southern boy throughout his life. One of his fond childhood memories is tying a wagon to his pet goat and having chariot races. Another was riding on the back of a motorcycle to the 1933 World’s Fair in Chicago. From the ages of 12 to 17, Irv worked in the general store after school 3-7p and Sat.7am-10pm for $2.50/week. In 1935 he entered Clemson University then known as Clemson A&M and graduated in 1939 as a 2nd Lt. in the ROTC. He traded that title for being a Staff Sgt in the USAF, saying he’d rather be a breathing Sgt. than a dead Lt. His adventurous spirit took him many places but opportunities of WWII were the ones that shaped his life. He met his soul mate, Alberta at a USO dance while stationed in Denver, CO. They married while on a 72 hr pass at the Hitching Post in Las Vegas Halloween, 1942. Irv flew 43 missions as a B24 top gunner in the Mediterranean Theater of Operations. He was fond of saying “It’s a good landing if you walk away.” After the war it was “Manifest Destiny”. He and his wife raised their family in Colorado with a brief interim in Kansas. Travelling the country by car was his passion, alternating summers in CA or SC & GA. His ultimate journey led to him to MX when he won a division sales prize in 1969 landing on a dirt air strip in San Carlos, MX. Being attracted by the beauty of the land and its people Irv & Alberta would spend the next 40 years in “paradise”. Irv called himself a “Climate Chaser” visiting each daughter across the US as the weather dictated. He was known as Sr. Chiclet in MX for passing out packs of gum as tips along with signed $2 bills for good luck. He lived by the 4 F’s; Faith, Family, Friendship and a little bit of Fun. Preceding him in heaven are his parents Hallie & Wilbur, wife Alberta, and his siblings; Annette & Wilbur Blake & Dorothy McCain. Surviving Irvin is his sister, Hallie Howard, his daughters & their families; Cheryl & Ron Stoll, Vicki & Bill Robb and Michelle & Brennan Devine-Rosser, 7 grandsons and 11 great grandchildren. A memorial will be held March 2016 at the Sea of Cortez. Memorial gifts may be sent to Church of Our Saviour, 1165 Rio RD, Charlottesville,VA 22901 and condolences to: www.teaguefuneralhome.com