George A. Blade

1927 - 2018

George A. Blade June 20, 1927 - March 27, 2018 Coronado George Allen Blade, YNC, USN, retired, of Coronado, was born on June 20,1927 in Caney, Kansas, a small town in the Southeastern part of the state. His parents, Emil Blade, Nora Blade Compton, and his wife, Arline MacLeod Blade, predeceased him. George graduated from Parker High School prior to the conclusion of World War II and entered the United States Navy preceding his eighteenth birthday and was rated as a Yeoman. His Navy career included shore-based tours in California, Washington, Hawaii, Japan, and Germany, and an eighteen-month assignment to a sea-air rescue ship in Kodiak, Alaska, on-board the USS Mahopac. He was also assigned to three different ships that were home-based in San Diego. It was during one of those San Diego tours of duty that he met and married his wife, Arline Macleod Blade. They were married a few months short of sixty-five years prior to her death in 2012. George also served as a "Tin Can" sailor aboard the USS Perkins. Additionally, he did a tour of duty aboard the USS Beaver. During his duty in Japan, aboard the destroyer tenders USS Dixie, USS Piedmont and the USS Prairie, he was an Admiral's Scribe. Furthermore, he was involved in Navy Intelligence throughout his long career. In July, 1963, George was named as a Chief Petty Officer, the true backbone of the Navy. He took the Chief's role seriously, to "exercise additional authority and responsibility." One of his favorite t-shirts read, "God couldn't be everywhere, so He created Navy Chiefs." He adhered faithfully to the Chief's Creed. George's last Navy assignment was with the U.S. Navy Liaison Office in Hamburg, Germany. Upon conclusion of that tour of duty, after twenty-one years of service, he requested and received permission to transfer to the Fleet Reserve and in July, 1967, he was released from active duty. In October, 1967, he began his second career as a Department of Defense civilian employee at the Naval Air Station, North Island. His last civilian position was as the Administrative Officer of the Naval Auxiliary Landing Field on San Clemente Island. In that capacity, he also served as the Contractor Administrator and the Educational Services Officer. He retired from Civil Service in June, 1988. He was a member of the Navy League, Fleet Reserve Association, VFW, American Legion, plank owner member of the United States Navy Memorial, U.S.S. Cabildo Association, the San Diego Zoological Society, the National Association for Retired Federal Employees, and a lifetime member of the Parker Community Historical Society. George was a gentle and unassuming man who found a sense of purpose in his work; he was a humble man who quietly fulfilled his responsibilities without desire for fanfare or recognition. His dry humor was a hallmark characteristic of his personality. He was always willing to go the distance for family, friends and country. He truly lived the Navy core values: Honor, Courage, Commitment. George died on March 27, 2018. He was ninety years old. George is survived by his sister, Muriel Pugh of Bartlesville, Oklahoma, four nieces and their families, also of Oklahoma, his daughter Vickie Singer (Charles) of Parker, Kansas, his grandson Russ and his family, and his daughter Dr. Melinda Blade, of Coronado. Family and friends, especially his little five-pound sidekick, Honey Bear, will miss him. George's family would like to express their appreciation and gratitude for the care he received at Balboa Naval Hospital, the Coronado Retirement Village and from each of his caregivers, especially Venisha. Contributions in George's memory may be made to the San Diego Zoological Society, the San Diego Humane Society or the USO. Services will be held on Tuesday, April 10, 2018 beginning at 1 PM. They will be at the First Presbyterian Church in San Diego at 320 Date Street. Chief Blade: "May you have fair winds and following seas."