Melvin R. Blake

Melvin R. Blake, 73, of Brookston, died Friday, March 19, 2004, at Lafayette Home Hospital.

He was born at Kokomo on July 25, 1930. He married Louise Jackman at Montezuma, Ind., on May 3, 1951. She survives.

He was raised in Hillsdale, Ind., where he graduated from Hillsdale High School in 1948.

His family moved to Brookston in 1959 and has lived there ever since.

He served in the US Army from 1948 to 1952 and during the Korean War as a Ski Trooper.

He was stationed in Big Delta, Alaska, serving two years in Active Survival with the Tenth Mountain service.

He worked in the strip mines in Newport from 1952-1959. He began working at Ross Gear (now TRW) in 1959 as a machinist, where he retired after 30 years of service in 1988. He also farmed part time for 35 years.

He was a member of the Chalmers American Legion for 14 years.

His hobbies were fishing m [sic] hunting and playing cards.

Other survivors include daughters, Cathy (Don) Rauch of Lafayette, Carol (Jerry) Thompson of Chalmers, Carmen Weiderhaft (companion Jack Platt) of Brookston; sons Jim (Julie) Blake and Ed Blake (companion Jill Dunn) all of Brookston; sisters, Mardell (Rex) Earles and Madonna (Dennis) Hoggatt all of Clinton, Marjorie (Don) Judson of Sesser, Ill., Myra (Mike) Todd of Montezuma and Becky (Dan) Vladetich of Royal Center; brothers Merle (Sharon) Blake of Montezuma and Marion Blake of Indianapolis and six grandchildren.

A sister, Millie Trittipo is deceased.

Funeral Services were Tuesday at Hartzler-Clapper Funeral Home with Rev. Dr. Lelan D. McReynolds officiating.

Burial was at the Brookston IOOF Cemetery.

Memorials may be made to the Brookston Federated Church or the Frontier Athletic Department.