Clifford Wolfe Blake Jr. passed away June 8th at 5:30 pm, at the age of 87. Born July 18, 1930 in New Albany, Indiana, he was the son of the late Clifford Wolfe Blake Sr. and the late Elizabeth Ruth (Harmon) Blake. He was brother to Francis Eugene Blake who was married to the late Vera Marie (Looney) Blake.
Cliff was a big man with a gentle spirit. He moved to Georgetown, Texas at an early age with his family then they later moved to Houston, Texas. He joined the United States Army in 1952 and served until 1954 in Georgia, Arkansas, and Germany. He married the late Mildred Marie (Spears) Blake on January 14, 1955. They raised three sons together in Houston, the late John Browning Blake, Charles Alva Blake married to Frances (Tomczak) Blake, and Michael Ray Blake. Although Cliff adopted Mildred’s children they were always his children and he cared for and loved them deeply. He was involved with the boys in 4H and coached little league for the boys’ teams. Clifford and Mildred had a love for animals and raised Doberman Pinchers than later showed Scottish Terriers that won awards. He worked from 1951 until his retirement in 1993 for the Southern Pacific Railroad as a Yard Office Supervisor – Assistant Train Master and remained involved with and in contact with many of his coworkers and friends from the railroad. After his retirement, he and Mildred traveled around the United States in their RV visiting family, friends, and interesting places while still keeping their home base of Houston until making Jacksonville, Texas their home in 1999. He loved Jacksonville and the quiet life of a small town instead of the hustle and bustle of a big city. He also loved playing games and could be found besting most at chess, dominos, and brain teaser games. Cliff was Poppy (grandfather) to David Blake married to Claudia (SIerra) Blake, Jennifer (Blake) Ramert married to Aaron Ramert, Kenneth Blake and Brooke Becker, and Kimberly (Blake) Osborne married to Bryan Osborne. He was great grandfather to Ansley and Garrett Blake, Sophia, Regina, Olivia, and Victoria Ramert, and Lily and Will Osborne.
A Celebration of Life for Clifford Wolfe Blake Jr. will be held at 10:00 am, Monday June 25, 2018 at American Heritage Funeral Home, 10710 Veterans Memorial Drive, Houston, Texas. Burial will follow at 11:15 am at the Houston National Cemetery, 10410 Veterans Memorial Drive, Houston, Texas. After burial, a reception will take place from 11:45 am to 1:45 pm at American Heritage Funeral Home.
Those who desire may make memorial donations in Clifford's name to the Alzheimer's Association of Houston and South Texas, 6055 South Loop East, Houston, TX 77087-1005.
