Charles Blake, MD

Charles Alan Blake, MD died on Tuesday, Aug. 5, 2014, at his East Ridge Home. He was born in Hennepin, Minn., on June 16, 1932, the son of the late Iona Ruth Starkey and Orsen Allen Blake. He attended Maplewood Academy in Hutchinson, Minn., and later graduated from Loma Linda University School of Medicine. Dr. Blake worked as an anesthesiologist in Rapid City, S.D., before moving to Chattanooga and Erlanger Hospital in 1975. He was an assistant clinical professor for the School of Respiratory Therapy and the School of Nurse Anesthesia at Erlanger/UTC. Dr. Blake also worked with area EMTs and Paramedics and was a Life Member of the Chattanooga Hamilton County Rescue Service. He was also a Sisters of Charity of Nazareth (KY) Associate. Dr. Blake grew up in in the Seventh-day Adventist Church but attended Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church in recent years. During his lengthy medical career Dr. Blake was a member of numerous medical associations. He was past president of the Tennessee Society of Anesthesiologists, delegate to the American Society of Anesthesiologists, American Medical Association, and a member of the Chattanooga Hamilton County Medical Society. Among his many achievements, Dr. Blake received the Joslin Certificate of Achievement in 2013 for living with diabetes for over 50 years. Dr. Blake is survived by his wife, Connie "Constance" Rotters Blake. Other survivors include his daughters, Anne (Alan) Case and Susan (Bruce) Kraemer, of Rapid City, S.D.; Lorin Jurgensen and Ruth (Gary) Badgley, of Snohomish, Wash.; several grandchildren and great-grandchildren. A funeral mass will be held at 11 a.m. Monday at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church with Father Mike Creson and Father Jim Vick officiating. Burial will be in Chattanooga National Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 6-8 p.m. today, Aug. 10, with a prayer service at 7:30 p.m. at the East Chapel of Chattanooga Funeral Home, 404 S. Moore Road. Please share thoughts and memories at www.ChattanoogaEastChapel.com. Memorial contributions may be made to the American Diabetes Association or to your favorite charity.