Bruce Allen Blake

Colonel Bruce A. Blake, 82, longtime resident of Cameron Park, California, passed away February 18, 2024, in Placerville, California. Bruce is survived by his wife, Grace M. Blake. He is also survived by his son from his first marriage, John Blake, and his daughter-in-law, Lisa Blake of Folsom, CA; grandchildren, Alex Blake, of Boulder, CO, and Grant Blake of Santa Barbara, CA. Bruce is also survived by stepchildren, Deren Ross, of Auburn, CA, and Theresa Keuning (husband Mark, son Arie), of El Dorado Hills, CA. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Dolores (Dee) Violis of Wilmington, DE, and son, Kevin Blake, of McKinleyville, CA.

Colonel Blake was born Feb. 5, 1942, in Wilmington, Delaware. He entered the University of Delaware in 1960 where he received a Bachelor of Science degree in education. He earned a Master of Science degree in educational administration from Georgia State University in 1975. He completed Infantry Officer Basic Course in 1965, Infantry Advanced Course in 1970, Command and General Staff College in 1978 and the National War College in 1986.

Upon graduation from the University of Delaware, Army ROTC, distinguished military graduate (DMG), he was commissioned as a second lieutenant of Infantry in the Regular Army. Upon graduation from Infantry Officer Basic, he was assigned to the 5th Mech Inf Div, Ft. Carson, CO, as a mechanized infantry platoon leader. Completing a tour of duty in Vietnam in 1967 as an infantry platoon leader and company XO in the 25th Inf Div, Colonel Blake entered flight training at Ft. Rucker, AL. He completed OV-1 Mohawk transition in 1968 and returned to Vietnam as the IR platoon leader in the 73rd Surveillance Airplane Co in III Corps. Upon returning in 1969, he was assigned to Ft Benning, GA. While there he completed the Infantry Officers Advanced Course, commanded the Infantry Center Honor Guard Company, completed his master’s degree and graduated from the Army’s rotary wing qualification course.

Colonel Blake was then assigned to the 3rd Mechanized Infantry Div. in Schweinfurt, West Germany in Jan 1975. There he was an Infantry battalion operations officer and XO, and a brigade operations officer. After CGSC in 1978 he was assigned to the HQ 6th Army, Presidio, San Francisco, CA, where he was an inspector general. Returning to Ft. Benning in 1981, Colonel Blake commanded a mechanized infantry battalion in the 197th Separate Infantry Brigade. In 1984 he was assigned to the Army Staff, Pentagon, and after the War College in 1986, to the Defense Mobilization Systems Planning Activity, OSD (currently the Office of Emergency Operations, the White House) where he was the director of training. While with DMSPA, Colonel Blake was also responsible for publishing the existing OPLAN and developing the current readiness reporting system. His last assignment was Chief, Defense Information Systems Agency Liaison Team, Sacramento Army Depot, Sacramento, CA beginning in 1989.

Colonel Blake’s military awards and decorations include the Expert Infantryman Badge, Combat Infantryman Badge, Jump Wings, Senior Aviator Wings, the Defense Superior Service Medal, Bronze Star Medal for Valor with two oak leaf clusters, Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters, Air Medal with 19 oak leaf clusters, Army Commendation Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal with six campaigns, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon and Vietnam Campaign Ribbon. Bruce was promoted to Colonel Apr. 1, 1987, with same date of rank.

Bruce retired from the Army in May of 1992 in a ceremony at the Presidio in San Francisco. He spent his remaining years doing home projects, traveling, managing the patio and garden center at Walmart for several years, and enjoying his grandchildren. Bruce had many interests including running marathons in his younger years, spending time with family, BMW cars, birdwatching, camping, watching the Tour de France and attending the California AMGEN Tour.

Several years after the passing of both of their spouses, Bruce met his wife Grace and they enjoyed 12 wonderful years together, including seven years of marriage. Bruce and Grace loved watching movies together, discussing politics, sharing a good cocktail, and traveling to the coast, including many camping trips to Bodega Bay.

For all of his life, Bruce was a fighter… for his country, for his family, for his independence, for his very self. He loved to tell stories in celebration of his service to his country and his family. He had a deep sense of curiosity, a fierce will, and was profoundly determined in every single endeavor he undertook. Bruce will be truly missed. Services for Bruce will be held in March at the Sacramento Valley National Cemetery, Dixon, CA, with full military honors.