Richard was born on April 7, 1931, in Mason City, Iowa to Richard and Frances Colegrove Blake. He was raised in Mason City and graduated from Mason City High School with the Class of 1949. He served with the United States Army during the Korean Conflict. On July 30, 1950, he was married to Sally L. McCray in Mason City. The couple moved to Cedar Falls in 1953 and he was employed as an electrician at the John Deere Company in Waterloo for over 33 years. The couple moved to Lake Ponderosa near Montezuma in 1987 and then to Grinnell in 2006. Richard enjoyed building and flying model airplanes, fishing and trapshooting. He is survived by his wife, Sally Blake of Grinnell; one son, Rick (Judy) Blake of LeClaire, Iowa; one daughter, Beckey (Terry) Anderson of Grinnell; two grandsons, Ben and Alex Blake; and one brother, Kenny (Anita) Blake of LaCrosse, Wisconsin. He was preceded in death by his parents. Memorials may be directed to the Richard Blake Memorial Fund and sent in care of Sally Blake, 2005 Spring Street, #305, Grinnell, Iowa 50112.