George Edward Blake, 88, of Sale Creek, Tennessee, peacefully passed away at home, surrounded by his loving family, on April 3, 2026. George was born on April 4, 1937, to Virgil and Mary Blake. He spent his life in Sale Creek, a town he always held dear.

George is survived by his wife, Charlotte F. Blake. He married Charlotte on June 20, 1975, and they spent over 50 years together, raising their beautifully blended family. He is also survived by sons Mike (Denise) Blake, David (Sonya) and Danny (Cindi) McGuffee, and daughter Jennifer (Jason) Welch. His six grandchildren — Heather McGuffee, Tiffany (Jordan) Haverly, Cameron Blake, Kayla (Chase) Parks, Brooke (Thomas) Lochridge, Blake Welch — and five great-grandchildren will forever cherish their memories of their papaw.

In 1992, he retired from Combustion after many years of service and kept busy in the years that followed working for Union Fork-Bakewell Utility District and delivering flowers for Lometa’s Flowers.

George’s legacy is defined by family and service. He served his country in the National Guard for 9 years and was a member of the Sale Creek Lions Club. He helped found Sale Creek’s Volunteer Fire Department and served as a Troop Leader in the Boy Scouts. George was wise, faithful, loyal, and kind — qualities he worked to instill in his children and grandchildren. Throughout his life, he enjoyed growing vegetables in his garden, whittling, boating and water skiing, camping, and traveling with his family — but George enjoyed few things more than conversation. He had vivid memories from all chapters of his life and enthusiastically shared them, over and over again, with friends and loved ones.

He and Charlotte were members of Sale Creek Independent Presbyterian Church for over 50 years, where George grew up attending church and later served as a deacon and elder meritorious.

George’s family will honor his incredible life on Tuesday, April 7, 2026, at Sale Creek Independent Presbyterian Church. They will receive friends from 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. with a funeral immediately following at 2:00 p.m. with burial to follow at Hamilton Memorial Gardens.

Please share your memories and photos of George on his online guest register at www.vanderwallfh.com.

The family is being cared for by Vanderwall Funeral Home and wishes to thank Hospice of Chattanooga – Dayton Chapter, for their excellent and compassionate care.