Robert Blake Jr

Robert Blake Jr. was born November 15, 1936 in Georgetown, South Carolina, one of six children to the late Robert and Cecelia Blake. After attending Georgetown High School, he relocated to Philadelphia Pa., where he worked in his uncle’s pressing business for ten years. He then moved to Brooklyn, New York where he met Veronica (Ronnie) Matherson. They married a year later and moved to an apartment. After five years of working and saving, Rob and Ronnie bought their first home in Crown Heights, where they stayed for 16 years until their son graduated. They then relocated to New Hampton, New York where they purchased their second home. During almost 60 years of marriage they had one son, James Blake. Rob started working as a presser, and later worked for 20 years at the Transit Authority in Brooklyn as a Bus Driver. A quiet and reserved man in those days, Rob joked that he was glad the buses had an iron enclosure to separate him from the customers. In his 20th year with the TA, he commuted for one year from Orange County to Brooklyn and then retired. In his first year of retirement, he looked so despondent that Ronnie got him a job at Horton Hospital. He said he’d only work there for one year, but 27 years later he was still at it, working in maintenance, then laundry, and finally as a courier. In this span of time, as Horton became Orange Regional Hospital and relocated, Rob also changed—from an introvert to a motor mouth. You couldn’t shut him up! He would say, “I have to tell myself, ‘Robert shut-up—you’re talking too much.’ ” Ronnie used to say, “Who Are You!? Where’s my Rob!?” He was happy and content there, and his dear wife was happy for him. Rob was a Real Man. He always worked, took care of all of his family and others, never wanted anyone to do anything for him, and was always willing to give anyone a helping hand. He was a Tower of Strength. Rob left us on April 6, 2018. To mourn his passing, he left his loving wife Ronnie, his son James Michael Blake Sr., granddaughter Jaime Michelle Blake, his two grandsons James Michael Blake Jr. and Robert James Blake, four great-grandchildren, sister Ophelia Marshall, a host of nieces and nephews, and many friends and acquaintances. “Rob, I will never say Good-bye—I’ll just say, see you later Old Man.” Visitation will be held on Thursday, April 12, 2018 from11:30AM to 1:00PM at Morse Funeral Home Inc. located at 33 Railroad Ave Middletown, NY. A funeral service will commence at 1:00PM At the funeral home followed by interment at Wallkill Cemetery In Middletown NY. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Morse Funeral Home Inc. 33 Railroad Ave Middletown NY 845-343-6918 www.morsefuneralhome.com

Robert Blake Jr

November 15, 1936 - April 6, 2018