William Harris Blake, 88, of Savannah, Georgia died Wednesday, May 19, 2021, after a long, courageous battle with Merkel Cell Carcinoma.
Mr. Blake was the son of the late William Stone Blake and the late Ann Flood Blake. Mr. Blake was a communicant of the Cathedral Basilica of St. John the Baptist. He was a graduate of Benedictine Military School Class of 1951 and Southern Polytechnic State University. He enlisted in the United States Army and was deployed to the Korean War from 1952 through 1954.
In 1972 Mr. Blake co-founded the Fenian Society which is the third oldest Irish Order in Savannah, Georgia. The Fenians were instrumental in helping form the Celtic Cross Ceremony that continues today. He worked for Kaiser Agriculture as production superintendent for both the Savannah and Tampa, Fl plants. He retired in 1995 from Baker Brothers as a sales manager with an outstanding sales career.
Mr. Blake was a member of Knights of Columbus #5588, Knights of Columbus #5588 Golf Blitz and American Legion Post 036 for over fifty years.
Mr. Blake was preceded in death by his wife, Sylvia Russom Blake; his partner of 24 years, Gail Zipperer Strausbaugh, and his sisters, Mary Blake Jodoin and Eleanor Blake Feuger.
He is survived by his daughters, Holly Blake Pace (Neil), Beth Blake Wasdin (Curtis), Cherise Bowman, Shannon Bowman, and son Michael Bowman; grandchildren, Christopher Pace, Philip Pace, Sylvia Blake Sanders (Tyler), Madison Bowman; great-grandchild Lily Grace Sanders; sister-in-law Shirley Stewart (Bob), Barbara Daggett and brother-in-law Donald Russom; nieces Theresa Feuger (Keith), Suzanne Feuger, Patricia Langston, and Judy Jodoin.
The family will receive friends at 5 o\'clock Friday evening, May 21, 2021, at Gamble Funeral Service - 410 Stephenson Avenue.
The Rosary Service will follow at 6 o\'clock, Friday evening, May 21, 2021, in the chapel of Gamble Funeral Service.
Remembrances may be made to Cathedral Basilica of St. John the Baptist at 222 East Harris Street, Savannah, Georgia or Benedictine Military School, 6502 Seawright Drive, Savannah, Georgia 31406.