Henry Blake

In the early morning hours of March 31, 2017, in Oak Ridge Tennessee, H. Wayland Blake PhD said goodbye to the ones who love him most on Earth and hello to the One who loves him best in Heaven. He spent his entire career in Oak Ridge, TN, at the three different facilities, Y-12, the Oak Ridge Gaseous Diffusion Plant and the Oak Ridge National Laboratories. He was a Cold War Patriot and an engineer through and through. He dreamed in 3-Dimensional geometry and solved "impossible equations" just for fun. One actually took him 4 years. And no...that isn't a typo. Dad was a huge Yankee's fan. He always had a ball-cap ready to show his team spirit. He loved Fox News, especially if he could get in a really good, one-sided argument with the commentator. He loved his grandsons, Blake 13, Brayden 11 and Bryant 8. He was always ready with a big hug, smile and an "I love you." He grew up "smack-dab" between two brothers, Roy and Leland. They could argue with the best of them but their love for each other couldn't be denied. Dad loved his kids. He taught my brother Dave how to fish, how to play ball and most importantly, how to be a man of his word. Dave and his wife Liz are musicians. Dad was always amazed at their talent, seeing as he didn't have a musical bone in his body. Trying to understand music to him was like us trying to solve one of his "impossible equations" it just wasn't going to happen. Even so, Dad stood in awe of their artistic gifts. Dad loved his little girl. He showed me every day how Jesus loves me and that's a gift I will carry with me forever. If Dad could have picked my husband Justin and my sister-in-law Liz out of a line-up he would have. He loved them both like they were his own. Out of all the people Dad loved there was one that captured his heart unlike any other and that was my mom, Becky. She was his sweetheart for over 52
years. Engineers aren't known for being particularly romantic, but they know when the pieces fit. Mom and Dad fit. Even in the toughest of times they fit. Mom was the love of Dad's life, and Jesus was the Lord of it. What a blessing to have been raised by a man who loved Jesus and tried his best to follow Him! I asked Dad about his "impossible equations" once, "How do you know you've solved one if it's never been solved before?" He responded with this..."It all just balances out in the end." Dad, your life, the good parts, the not so great parts, the amazing parts and the heartbreaking parts balanced out to something beautiful in the end! I sure wish we could have been there to see the look on your face when Jesus whispered the answer to your life's equation in your ear. No worries though. You can tell us all about it when we get there.
Wayland was born to Roy Baxter Blake Sr. and Mary Langley Blake on March 2, 1940 in Siler City, NC.
He is survived in death by his wife of 52 years Rebecca (Becky) Blake, his son David Wayland Blake and his wife Liz Blake, his daughter Stephanie Blake Randolph, her husband Rev. Justin Randolph, and their three sons, Blake, Brayden, and Bryant. He is also survived by his brothers Roy and Leland Blake as well as his nephews and nieces, Steve Blake, PhD, Liz Blake Clothier, Kathryn Blake Snow and Zak and Brad McNeill, and several great nephews and nieces.
He was a long time member and deacon at Central Baptist Church, Oak Ridge Tennessee and has been a member of Grace Baptist, Knoxville Tennessee for 25 years.
The Family would like to thank the doctors who walked with us through the valley of sickness for the last four years- Doctors Robert Casey, Ronald Wray, David Long, John Foust, Richard Strike and Mark Bowles.
The Family would also like to thank the amazing nursing staff of Professional Case Management (PCM) for their tireless efforts in caring for Wayland. In addition they wish to express their gratitude to the Amedisys Hospice Care team for their support during Wayland's final days.
In lieu of flowers please send any memorial gifts to Zion Hill Baptist Church, 206 Zion Hill Church Road, Sevierville Tennessee, 37876 for their missions fund, or Grace Baptist Church, 7171 Oak Ridge Highway, Knoxville Tennessee, 37913, for their missions fund, or the church/charity of your choice.
Receiving of friends for Dr. Blake will be held at Martin's Funeral Home on Friday, April 7th from 5-7PM with funeral immediately following. The burial will be at Oak Ridge Memorial Park on Saturday, April 8th at 10AM.