Fred Blake Jr.

Fred graduated from Central High School and Southwestern at Memphis (Rhodes College) and served in the Army Corp of Engineers during World War II as a battalion supply sergeant in the 235th Combat Engineers. He was awarded the Bronze Star for his leadership in the Italian campaign, and his story is documented at the World War II Museum in New Orleans.

Fred always had a great passion for work and brought an energy to the workplace that uplifted everyone with whom he worked. From the Tri-State Compress Company to Holiday Inns to the Germantown Performing Arts Center, his 70 years of service were an inspiration to all. At Holiday Inns he was President of an international division of the expanding hotel chain during which time the family lived in Mexico and Belgium for four years.

Fred married Betty Coop on September 27, 1952. They have two sons, Kent and Scott. Kent and his wife, Jennifer, have two children, Drew and Kelly. Fred is also survived by his two brothers Jack (Dottie) and Chuck (Nancy).

Most importantly, Fred loved his family and friends. He had a great gift: He could listen so intently to you and make you feel like you were the most important person on earth. He saw Christ in others.

Fred and Betty have been life-long members at the Germantown Church of Christ, where Fred was involved in leading the effort to build the present building on Poplar Pike.

In lieu of customary remembrances, the family requests charitable donations to be sent to the Christian Charity, Hope for Haiti’s Children (http://www.hopeforhaitischildren.org/).

Friends are invited to gather and share remembrances of Fred with the family from eleven o’clock in the morning to twelve o’clock in the afternoon on Friday, the 19th of August, at Germantown Church of Christ, 8723 Poplar Pike in Germantown. The funeral service will commence at twelve o’clock in the afternoon. There will be a private family interment later in the day.