Obituary of Benjamin Blake

Benjamin Franklin "Ben" Blake, Sr, 87, passed away Saturday, March 10, 2012 at Georgetown Memorial Hospital. Born on November 11, 1924, in Georgetown County, he was a son of the late Willie Ben Blake and the late Annie Porter Blake. Mr. Blake was a member of Screven Baptist Church and the Keystone Sunday School class, he was also a former deacon and served on several committees throughout the church. He was a US Army Veteran of WWII having served with the 166th Combat Engineers, serving in four European Theatres. He participated in the Battle of the Bulge under the command of Gen. George Patton and was a recipient of the Purple Heart and the Bronze Star. Mr. Blake attended the schools of Georgetown County and retired from International Paper Company as a general mechanic after 45 years of service. He was a member of the Wedgefield Plantation Golf Club and the 3-County Senior Golf Club. Survivors include one daughter, Ria Lee B. Cooper (Jackie) of Georgetown; two sons, Benjamin F. "Frankie" Blake, Jr. and James William "Bill" Blake (Sandra) both of Georgetown; nine grandchildren, Dana Smith (Rick), Tammy Hutcheson (Fred), Andrew Blake (Katelyn), Tracy Cooper (Mayo), Rachael Burns (Jeff), Tina Cribb (Alan), April Hetzel (Ed), Alex Blake (Kristin) and Adam Blake; 11 great grandchildren, Kinsley Hetzel, McKinlee Blake, Erin Burns, Ethan Burns, Chandler Smith, Caroline Smith, Caitlyn Smith, Ava Cribb, Joshua Hutcheson, Karlie Misdom and Will Misdom; and number of nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Frances Rogers Blake; second wife, Ella Jane Reed Blake; a brother, William H. Blake; and three sisters, Margaret B. Skinner, Alberta B. Anderson and Bernice B. Marshall. Funeral Services will be held at 2 PM Tuesday, March 13, 2012 at First Baptist Church. Burial will follow in Pennyroyal Memorial Gardens. The family will receive friends from 6-8 PM Monday, March 12, 2012 at First Baptist Church. Memorials may be made to Screven Baptist Church, Fellowship Building Fund, PO BOX 2776, Georgetown, SC 29442 or Campus Crusade for Christ, c/o April Hetzel, 1301 E. Academy St. Fuquay-Varina, NC 27526. Graham Funeral Home of Georgetown is in charge of the arrangements. www.grahamfuneralhome.org