Lieutenant Colonel Robert Ellis Blake, US Army (ret.) was born February 10, 1936, in Peoria, Illinois, to Ellis Dillon “Luke” Blake and Gladys Lyle Blake. He passed away on July 5, 2025, at the age of 89. The son of a U.S. Army infantry colonel, Bob grew up in various locations where his father was stationed. Among these were Ft. Lewis, Washington; Kyoto, Japan: Ft. Leavenworth, Kansas: and Ft. Sam Houston, Texas. Bob graduated from Thomas Jefferson High School in San Antonio, Texas, in 1954. He then entered Texas A&M University, where he was a member of the Fish Drill Team and the Ross Volunteers. As a Distinguished Military Graduate in 1958 he was commissioned as a field artillery second lieutenant and served in that branch throughout his career.
Bob began his distinguished military career with A Battery, 1st Howitzer Battalion/Sixth Artillery Regiment in the Third Armored Division in Gelnhausen, Germany. At Ft. Hood, Texas he commanded an artillery battery in the First Armored Division. He later served two combat tours in Vietnam. During his first tour in Vietnam in 1962-1963, Bob served as an advisor to the South Vietnamese Army (ARVN). His second tour was as an executive officer of a field artillery battalion with the First Cavalry Division in 1969-1970.
Selected to serve as a foreign area specialist for Latin America, Bob earned a master’s degree in Latin American studies from Louisiana State University. He was then chosen to study Spanish at the prestigious Defense Language Institute in Monterrey, California, from which he graduated as the distinguished honor graduate of his class. From there, Bob served in the United States Southern Command (USSOUTHCOM) at Quarry Heights, Panama. Additionally, he later served as a U.S. Army Foreign Area Officer for Latin America in the Headquarters of the United States Department of Defense in the Pentagon. Also, during the course of his career, he served in Readiness Group Los Angeles (RGLA) at Ft. MacArthur, California, training Army National Guard and Reserve units in California, Nevada, and parts of Arizona. He concluded his military career at the Pentagon serving as an intelligence officer on the Department of Army staff.
Bob graduated from the Field Artillery Officer Basic Course and the Field Artillery Officer Career Course, both at Ft. Sill, Oklahoma. He also graduated from the Command and General Staff College at Ft. Leavenworth, Kansas. His awards and decorations included the Legion of Merit and two Bronze Stars, one being for valor.
Among his hobbies, Bob became a licensed private pilot, played the guitar and sang, and ran for exercise for many years. Upon retirement, Bob worked for a number of years in computer programming in California. Bob relocated to his hometown of San Antonio, Texas, in 2005, where he was an active member of All Saints Anglican Church. He also served with the Texas Border Volunteers in helping to secure our southern border. He additionally participated in the Texas A&M Former Students Association and the Retired Officers Association of San Antonio.
Bob was preceded in death by his wife, Mary Mittermeyar Blake (nee Mary Caroline Mittermayer) who passed away in 2004. Bob and Mary were happily married for 42 years. They were married on June 30, 1962 at Alamo Heights United Methodist Church on Broadway in Alamo Heights, Texas. He was also preceded in death by his daughter, Lisa Kay Blake (1962-2018), his brothers, Phillip Lyle Blake, COL US. Army (ret.) (1938-2022), and Steven Lee Blake, US. State Department (ret.) (1944-2024). Bob is survived by his daughter, Jeannette Rose Peed, her husband, Randall Preston Peed, and their son, Walker Preston Peed, all of Atlanta, Georgia. Bob is also survived by his brother, Douglas Brian Blake, LTC U.S. Army (ret.), sister-in-law, Linda Foley Blake, and nephew, Brian Foley Blake. He is additionally survived by his sister-in-law, Reda Wallace Blake, and his niece, Susan Blake Kirschbaum, her husband, Lloyd Allan Kirschbaum, and their children, Blake Andrew Kirschbaum and Grace Jillian Kirschbaum. He is also survived by his nephew, Matthew Lyle Blake, his wife, Anna Hidalgo Blake, and their children, Maria Elena Blake, Ellis Dillon Blake II, 2LT US. Army National Guard, and Andrew James Blake, as well as numerous other relatives.
A devoted husband, father, and grandfather, Bob was loved and admired greatly by his family. He is likewise held in high esteem and affection by many others and will be sorely missed.
The family will receive friends from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., on Thursday, July 31, 2025, at Porter Loring Mortuary North.
A Funeral service will be held on Friday, August 1st, 2025, at 9:00 a.m., at All Saints Anglican Church, 1122 Link, San Antonio, TX 78213. Immediately afterwards, Lieutenant Colonel Blake will be laid to rest with full military honors at Ft. Sam Houston National Cemetery.
