Coach Ron Blake, 58, a resident of Elkins, departed this life on Sunday morning, Nov. 29, 2009, at his home after an extended illness.
Coach Blake was born Wednesday, March 21, 1951, at Fayetteville, to the late James Ronald Blake Sr. and the late Freddie Zane Coleman Blake.
Married twice, he was preceded in death by his first wife, Loretta Grace Armstrong. On Nov. 20, 1993, he married Judy Mae Novallis, who survives.
Also surviving are two sons, Andrew Patrick Blake and wife, Jamie, of Charles Town and Christopher Adam Blake of Washington, D.C.; two stepchildren, Peter Christopher Novallis and wife, Ashley, of Morgantown and September Howard and husband, Matthew, of Fairmont; one grandchild, Carter Benjamin Blake of Charles Town; and one stepgrandson, Levi Howard of Fairmont.
Coach Blake was an All-State basketball player at Fayetteville High School, where he graduated in 1969. He moved to Elkins after accepting a basketball scholarship to Davis & Elkins College. Although a severe injury ended his athletic career at D&E, he graduated in 1973. Following his graduation, Coach Blake began a successful teaching career at Parsons High School and a successful coaching career at Parsons Junior High School. In 1979, Coach Blake accepted a teaching and coaching position at Tygarts Valley High School where he remained until becoming the head boys basketball coach at Elkins High School and a teacher at Elkins Junior High School. He was also an assistant coach for the Elkins High School women's basketball program. In 1985, continuing health problems forced him to retire from teaching although he retained his head coaching position at Elkins High School on a volunteer basis until 1990.
Sports commentator and longtime friend Ralph Bennett said Coach Blake was one of the most fun people he knew and a "cherished friend." Once, after an Elkins game in Morgantown, Bennett recalled it was 20 minutes before he and Coach Blake realized they were in Pennsylvania headed north instead of returning to Elkins. Coach Blake and Bennett were friends for more than 30 years and were neighbors at the time of Coach Blake's death.
"Ron was the best fundamental basketball coach I'd ever seen," Bennett commented. "It was just so much fun to be around him."
Coach Blake also served as the state director of West Virginia Special Olympics basketball for 20 years, organizing and running an annual Special Olympics Basketball Tournament every March. Aside from being passionate about athletics and education, Coach Blake was also an avid stamp collector.
In 1995, Coach Blake and his wife founded Community Response Foundation, a nonprofit organization specializing in representative payee services for Social Security recipients. Coach Blake was the director of Community Response Foundation until his death. His family would like to express their gratitude to Mrs. Donna Louk, who executed the daily operations of the office during Coach Blake's absence.
The family will receive friends at Lohr & Barb Funeral Home of Elkins from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. today. Final rites will be conducted at the funeral home chapel Wednesday, Dec. 2, at 12:30 p.m. The Rev. Donald Butcher and Ralph Bennett will officiate and interment will follow in Mountain State Memorial Gardens in Gilman.
Lohr & Barb Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements for Coach J. Ronald Blake Jr.
Condolences may be expressed to the family at www.lohrbarbfuneralhome.com.
