Earl Hamilton Blake

Earl Hamilton Blake, formerly of Berwick, died August 22, 2019, in Philadelphia. Born on October 5, 1926, he was the son of Earl H. Blake, Sr., and Mabel (Ross) Blake. He was a 1950 graduate of Bloomsburg State University and a U.S. WW II Army veteran. As a young man he obtained a license to fly single engine planes. He was a teacher and guidance counselor in the Berwick Area School District for 35 years and served for 10 years on the board of the Berwick Public Library. He was a Boy Scout scoutmaster who loved nature, travel, and the beach. He lived in Berwick most of his life and was a member of St. Mary's Immaculate Conception Catholic Church. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, the former Christine Peters, in 2017, after a marriage of 68 years; and a sister, Margaret Blank. He is survived by his five children: Karl and his wife Charlene of Brandy Station, Virginia; Susan Benesole and her husband Bob of Philadelphia; Noreen Lewis and her husband James of Silver Spring, Maryland; Kevin and his wife Susan of Danville; and Allan and his wife Diana of Elizabeth, New Jersey; eight grandchildren: Emily (Blake) White-Latham, Amanda (Blake) Palmer, Marcella (Benesole) Olenik, Christine (Benesole) Melendez, Carolyn Blake, Kristin Blake, Shanti (Lewis) Nepomuceno, Keeran Lewis, and 13 great-grandchildren: Jade, Autumn, Preston, Noah, Everett, Joseph, Beatrix, Grover, Scarlett, Kamden, Blake, Ella, and August. A Mass in his memory will take place September 20, 2019, 10:30 am, at St. Mary's Immaculate Conception Church, 1730 Fowler Avenue, Berwick. Rev. Francis J. Tamburro will be officiating. Interment will follow at the Pine Grove Cemetery Annex. Memorial donations may be made to Boy Scouts, Columbia-Montour Council, 5 Audobon Court, Bloomsburg, PA 17815. Messages of condolence may be mailed to 9511 Alton Street, Philadelphia PA 19115. Online condolences may be made at http://www.lifecelebration.com/obituaries/.