Nan Blake

Nan (Willits) Blake was born in Philadelphia on Jan. 29th 1923 to Oliver and Margaret (Fitler) Willits. They lived in a nearby town called Riverton, N.J. where Nan was raised with her two sisters.

She attended Irwin School for Girls, and Wellesley College, majoring in Political Science. After graduation, she took a job in N.Y.C. doing advertising research, which she loved. She was married to Dr. William J. Blake immediately after he completed his medical degree, and they lived in N.Y.C. , New Haven, CT, and Riverdale, N.Y. while he finished his training as a pathologist. A final stint in Washington, D.C. brought them to Arlington, VA, where Nan brought up her two sons while her husband served in Korea. After his discharge from the Army, Nan moved to Milwaukee, WI, then Salisbury, MD, and finally Holden,MA. , where she brought up her 3 sons: William J. Blake, Jr., Oliver W. Blake and Charles K. Blake.

She served as President of the Women's Auxiliary of the Holden Hospital. Subsequently she opened a bookstore which flourished briefly in Holden, but then suffered competition from large national chain bookstores. She was an excellent golfer, and loved to travel, and read omnivorously. She is survived by her husband, 3 sons, eight grandchildren and two great grandchildren. She died peacefully in her sleep, and was 85. Caswell-King Funeral Home, 1147 Main St., Holden, are directing the funeral arrangements, which are to be private.