Richard Dale “Snake” Blake, 66, of Mio, passed away unexpectedly Friday, Nov. 23, 2012 at his home. ...

Richard was born in Detroit on Aug. 14, 1946, the son of the late John Richard and June Blake. He served his country in the U.S. Navy in the SeaBees during the Vietnam War.   Richard worked as a high-low driver for the Ford Motor Company’s Sterling Plant, retiring in 2001. He settled in Mio, where he and his wife Eleanor had owned property since 1998. He was a member and brother of The Loyal Riders Club, the Luzerne American Legion Post 162, and had served as an officer for the State of Michigan A.B.A.T.E.   Richard enjoyed riding his motorcycle, pitching horseshoes and league bowling. He will be remembered as a loyal brother, who would go out of his way to help others in need.   Surviving are his wife, Eleanor A. (Shattuck) Blake; children, Lana (Glen) Carriere of Fairview, Amber (Joe) Birch and Brian Blake, both of Oregon, and Justin VanDerBussche of Michigan; his brothers, Greg (Beth) Blake, Bill (Lori) Blake and Bobby Blake; his seven grandchildren, including his grandson Dylan Bare, whom he raised since his mother Tina’s untimely death; and also one expected great-grandchild.   He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Thomas, Tim and Brian Blake; and daughter, Tina Bare.