James E. Blake

1927 - 2025

James E. Blake

May 11, 1927 - July 4, 2025

Kettering, Ohio - On July 4, 2025, James E. Blake, age 98, died the way he lived ----- on his own terms. An appropriate date for the WWII Veteran, Jim died peacefully after speaking to each of his family members.

Jim join the Army after his high school graduation from Avoca, NY Central High School. The then 17 year-old-graduate entered into the military after his father signed permission documents and memorizing the eye chart.

The Private First Class was assigned to the 3rd Army in Belgium as their company clerk and was discharged two years later as a Master Sargent. He returned to Upstate New York and enrolled in Syracuse University where he met and then married Marilyn R. Farrington. At the time of her death (2023), they had been married 75 years.

Jim's business career was both varied and diverse in both industry and place. He started his career in the catalog department at Crouse Hinds located in Syracuse, NY, leaving 25 years later as their International Vice President. Later in his career, Jim served as the President of Pyle National located in Chicago, IL and ended his career at the dawn of the cellular telephone business starting the Detroit Cellular One Company (now Verizon), located in Detroit, MI and as CEO of Microtel (now Vodaphone) then located in Bristol, England.

Beside work, Jim enjoyed playing golf, traveling the world with Marilyn, and dispensing his "fatherly" advice to his children and later, his grandchildren who relished calling him, "Pop." He lovingly earned the nickname, "King James, "and was known for his motto (an adaption of the quote from Louis Vincent Gerstner, a Chairman of the Board at IBM), "You don't get what you expect, you get what you inspect."

He is survived by his children, Carol Boyd (Peter Boyd), Ed Blake (Karin Spicer). Grandchildren Gregory Boyd (Katharine Gibson), Michael Boyd (Beth Byron), and Jordan Blake Cruse (Alex Cruse), and three grandchildren, Luke Boyd, Brielle Boyd, and Henry Boyd.

Jim was predeceased by wife, Marilyn, his parents, Edward and Cecile Blake, Mother-in-law and father-in-law, Florence and Earl Farrington, his sister, Betty Hoffman and his brothers-in-law, Hobert Hoffman, Stewart Farrington, and Edward Farrington.

A memorial for Jim and Marilyn will be held later this fall. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made on Jim's behalf to: Ohio's Hospice of Dayton, 3024 Wilmington Ave., Dayton, OH 45420.

To share a memory of Jim or leave his family a special message, please visit www.newcomerdayton.com <http://www.newcomerdayton.com>.