Gene Blake

Born Dec.15, 1934 in Jefferson City, Mo. to Homer and Retha (Stevens) Blake, he first married Frieda Wisdom.  He later married Patricia Johnson on Jul.11, 1975 in South Pekin.

Surviving are his wife; 3 sons, Bobby (Kathleen) Blake of South Pekin, Russell (Vicky) Blake of Oklahoma City, and Thomas (Tina) Blake of Oklahoma; 2 daughters, Rhonda (Dennis) Winn and Tracie (Mike) Fabry, both of Pekin; 2 step-sons, David (Barb) Wisdom of Mt. Vernon, and Danny (Coral) Wisdom of Oklahoma; 2 step-daughters, Della (Larry) Stewart of Oklahoma and Janice Mercer of Oklahoma; several grand children and great-grandchildren; 1 sister, Alfa Wileg of St. Charles, Missouri; and 1 brother, Otis Blake of Missouri.

Gene was preceded in death by his parents; 2 sons, Leonard G. Blake, Jr. and Jeffrey Blake.

He worked for both Jack Hymbaugh Chevrolet and Ray Dennison Chevrolet in Pekin, retiring as the service manager at Dennison’s after a total of 37 years of service.

Gene served in the U.S. Army from 1957 to 1960..

He was a member of the Pekin Moose Family Center #916, Amvets Post #235 in Pekin, and a former member of Sunset Hills Country Club. He enjoyed playing golf, racing cars, and boating.  He was an avid St. Louis Cardinals baseball fan.

His graveside service will be at 2 p.m., Wednesday, September 15, 2010 at Lakeview Cemetery in Pekin.  Rev. Eric Branch will officiate.  There will be no visitation.  Arrangements are by Preston-Hanley Funeral Homes & Crematory in Pekin.

Memorial contributions may be made to South Pekin Congregational Church, 202 Meyers Ct., South Pekin, IL  61564.