Obituary of Dorothy Mae Blake

Dorothy, "Dottie", Mae (Pein) Blake born September 12, 1931, died June 29, 2020 in McKinney, Texas at age 88. She was born Summit Valley Washington, the daughter of Carl Henry and Ida (Harms) Pein. Dorothy grew up on her family's farm near Addy, WA and graduated in 1949 from Jenkins High School, Chewelah WA. She attended Eastern Washington from 1949-1952. While attending school she worked as a waitress and met Richard Blake, stationed at Fairchild Air Force Base, on his first leave from the base. It was love at first sight. They were married August 29, 1952. As a part of USAF 514th Fighter Interceptor Squadron their assignments included England, Washington, and California. While in CA she obtained her pilots license and flew her family among the air bases in a Cessna. Richard and Dorothy's last assignment was at Wright Patterson Air Force Base in Fairborn Ohio. Dorothy completed her degree at Wright State University. She was employed from 1966 to 1997 by Fairborn City Schools. She taught US History, Sociology, and Social Studies at Park Hills High School, then Fairborn High School. There she was an advisor for The Junior Council on World Affairs, Junior Class Advisor, and was a local representative to the State and Nation Education Association. Dorothy enjoyed camping with her husband and children as they traveled throughout the United States and Canada visiting monuments and national parks. During the school year bowling and golfing were her passion. In her free summers she enjoyed traveling with special friends MJ Williams, Carol Wichman, and Mark and Elaine Shillito. A lifelong learner, she continued to take classes, and visited the countries of Australia, New Zealand, Greece, and Italy. She especially raved about riding a camel in Egypt. In February of this year she traveled to Florida to surprise longtime friends Rick and Toni Valenzi for their 50th wedding anniversary. Above all she enjoyed spending time with her family in Texas, Ohio, and Washington. Dorothy is survived by daughters Debi Arnold of McKinney, TX, and Diana (Dale) Drollinger of Beavercreek, OH, grandchildren Stephanie Balsom (Eric Armentrout), Audrey Balsom, Blake (Stephanie) Arnold, Preston Arnold, Erin Blake, and Caidyn Hamlin Blake, great-grandson Micah George Armentrout, and her sister Erna Kaegle. She leaves many nieces, nephews, cousins, and their families that she adored. Dottie was preceded in death by her parents, husband Richard Blake, son George Blake, sisters Martha Green, Margaret Potter, and brother Herman Pein. Arrangements and obituary through Merit Memorial.https://meritmemorial.com/.