Obituary of Ralph Blake

Mr. Ralph Oliver Blake, 93, of 9 General Dalton Dr., Naugatuck, Ct., died late Friday evening, Jan 4, 2008, at the Middlebury Convalescent Home in Middlebury, Ct. He was the husband of Elna Marian (Lundin) Blake.Mr. Blake was born in Milford, Ct., Sept. 14, 1914, a son of the late Ralph A., and Angeline (Clark) Blake and was educated in the Milford school system. He was a 1933 graduate of Milford High School, a graduate of The Stone Business College and attended the University of Mississippi, during World War II. while in high school, he played on the basketball team and ran on the track team, and was nicknamed "Flash. He also had his own baseball and football teams. He was the author of the Wetomis class motto "Have a Winning Spirit. He was an amateur tournament golfer, and over the course of his lifetime, had 3 holes-in-one: the first in the 1930s at the Wilcox Golf Course, in Milford, Ct. He had been a member of the Mill Plain Union Church Golf League, of Waterbury, Ct., where he had his 2nd hole-in-one at the Highland Greens Golf Course in Prospect, Ct., and became a member of The Americans Hole-In-One Club. A third hole-in-one he achieved at the Highland Greens Golf Course in 1992. He also had beaten the Florida amateur golf champion, and he was club champion at the Wilcox Golf Course. In 1939, he won the spring golf tournament at the Wepawaug Country Club, today known as the Grassy Hill Country Club, in Orange, Ct. His other hobbies included: swimming, tennis, figure skating, checkers, and Ping Pong, where he had won many tournaments. He was a veteran of WWII, having served in the U.S. Army from 1942 through 1945, with the 592nd Joint Assault Signal Co. He received the American Theater Campaign Ribbon, the Asiatic-Pacific Theater Ribbon, the Philippine Liberation Ribbon with Two Bronze Service Stars, the Good Conduct Medal and the Victory Medal. Following his education, he had been employed by the U.S. Rubber Co. of Naugatuck, Ct., and later worked for the High Standard Mfg. Co. in Hamden, Ct.. Following his service during World War II, he entered the banking field, first working at the Milford Trust Co., the Waterbury National Bank, and the Naugatuck Building and Loan Assoc., where he served as Assistant Treasurer. He later joined the Union Trust Co. staff, as a Parkade teller where he spent the last 17 years of his employment, retiring in 1975.He was a member of Salem Evangelical Lutheran Church, where he had sung in the choir during the early 50s and had been an usher. Also during the 50s he had appeared with Pastor Bertram on the TV program "Moments of Comfort. He had also sang in the choirs of Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church of Waterbury, Ct., and First Baptist Church of Shelton, Ct., where his daughter, June, was organist and choir director, and accompanied by June, sung solos during the summer months in various area churches. He was a 58-year member of Ansantawae Lodge # 89 A.F & A.M. of Milford, Ct. and was a former member of both the New Haven and Watertown Skating Clubs, where he had passed his three Preliminary Dance Tests during the early 60s and had participated in several dance shows. He was known as the "Pivot Man for the Grand March and taught the beginning skaters the basics of figure skatng.Besides his wife, Elna, of 61 years, he leaves one daughter, June E. Blake, both of Naugatuck, Ct.; one brother, Robert B. Blake of Branford, Ct.;2 nephews., Walter E. Rhodes of Milford, Ct., and Robert Salvo of Scottsdale, Az,; a niece, Beryl L. Montville of Naugatuck, Ct.and cousins, Anna W. Braman of Lee, MA, and Marion Brouillette of Milford, Ct.; and several great-nephews and great-great-nephews. He was predeceased by another brother, Albert Blake and a sister Gertrude B. Rhodes, and a niece, Elaine L. RookFuneral services will be held on Friday ,Jan. 11th, 2008, at 10:30 a.m. at the Salem Evangelical Lutheran Church, 14 Salem St. Naugatuck, Ct, Burial with full military honors will be held in Grove Cemetery, Naugatuck, Ct.. Relatives and friends may call at the Alderson Funeral Home of Naugatuck, 201 Meadow St., Naugatuck, Ct., on Thursday evening, from 6 to 8 p.m. Members of the Naugatuck Veterans Council will meet at the funeral home on Thursday, at 7:15 p.m. Members of Ansantawae Lodge # 89A.F & A.M., will conduct a Masonic Service at 7:30 p.m. Memorial contributions may be made to the Organ Fund of the Salem Evangelical Lutheran Church, 14 Salem St., Naugatuck, Ct., 06770, or to the Middlebury Convalescent Home, 778 Middlebury Rd., Middlebury, Ct., 06762