Born: October 11, 1938 - Deceased: February 11, 2024
Jewel “Ruth” Blake, nee Bolinger, 85, of Fairview Heights, IL, born Tuesday, October 11, 1938, in Salem, IL, passed away Sunday, February 11, 2024 at her residence.
Ruth was a member and former pastor’s wife of Christ the King Apostolic Church in O’Fallon, IL, an ordained minister of the United Pentecostal Church International for 65 years, and served with her husband as a missionary in Liberia, Ghana, Scotland and New Zealand. She was also a Bible College educator in Liberia and Ghana.
Ruth was an accomplished musician and singer, an animal lover, a talented artist, a published author, and loved gardening and decorating.
She was preceded in death by her:
- Parents, Kenneth E. and Mildred Jewel, nee Miller, Bolinger
- Brothers:
- Keith Bolinger
- Stanley Bolinger
- Sister, Janice Bolinger
Surviving are her:
- Loving husband, Rev. Larry Blake of Fairview Heights, IL
- Children:
- Rev. Kevin (Jeanine) Blake of Bay City, TX
- Rev. Jonathan (Angela) Blake of Pana, IL
- Camille Blake of Fairview Heights, IL
- Grandchildren:
- Tiffany (Joel) Williams
- Laura (Adam) Blake
- Lindsay (Steven) Guttridge
- Jeron (Brenna) Blake
- Justin (Heidi) Blake
- Jalen (Savannah) Blake
- Jordan (Christyana) Blake
- great grandchildren:
- Eddison Blake
- Elaina Thomas-Blake
- Loxley Blake
- Forest Blake
- Theo Blake
- Orson Blake
- Penelope Blake
- Declan Blake
- Clara Blake
- Mylon Williams
- Makenna Guttridge
- Anniston Guttridge
- future great grandson, Alvin Blake
- Brothers and Sisters:
- Charles (Judy) Bolinger of Lansing, MI
- Stephen (Sally) Bolinger of Durand, MI
- Robert (Carol) Bolinger of Alton, IL
- Neil (Kathy) Bolinger of Fishers, IN
- Bruce (Fredia) Bolinger of Seabring, FL
- Karen Verrett-Bolinger, Waterloo, IL
- Kenneth (Tanya) Bolinger of Nashville, TN
- Rebecca (Stephen) Sullivan of Belleville, IL
- Duane (Nancy) Bolinger of Millstadt, IL
- Many dear nieces, nephews, and cousins
Express condolences at www.kurrusfh.com.
Memorials: Memorials may be made to Christ the King Apostolic Church 6920 Old Collinsville Rd.O’Fallon, IL.
Visitation: Visitation from 4:00 pm – 8:00 pm, Thursday, February 15, 2024 at Christ the King Apostolic Church in O’Fallon, IL and from 11:00 am – 12:00 pm Friday, February 16, 2024 at the church.
Funeral: Funeral Services will be held at 12:00 pm, Friday, February 16, 2024 at Christ the King Apostolic Church, with Rev. J. Andrew Romine, Rev. T.L. Smith, Rev. Larry Blake, Rev. Kevin Blake, and Rev. Jonathan Blake officiating. Interment will follow at Lake View Memorial Gardens in Fairview Heights, IL.
7 Comments
My beautiful cousin, Ruth! Such a treasure she was, and the legacy
she leaves is priceless! The impact of your ministry is global. So many lives have been touched and won to Christ by you and Larry! Your reward is great! I love you much, Ruth! Look for me for I will be there, too!
May God’s peace and comfort be with her family.
Jewel was such a fitting name for this virtuous, righteous, and loving woman of God. She always had a smile on her face and kind words, even when she wasn’t feeling well. I’ll miss her sweet, gentle spirit and words of wisdom. We have truly lost a Jewel, but God loved her best. To Pastor Blake and Family, the Bollinger and all the rest of her family and friends, too, we are praying for you all. Our hearts are saddened at the loss of our precious Mother Blake.
We will miss sweet Sis. Ruth Blake so much. She has always been there for us, to celebrate the precious times and in the very hard times. She was very wise and an encourager! What a great, godly example she was to all of us!
What a blessing she has been to so many in our CTK church family and around the world! She ran her race well & was faithful to her Lord.
We love all of her family & are praying for God to give all of them His sweet peace, comfort & rest.
Ruth!!! What a precious cousin! So thankful for the Godly influence she had on my life! She was so special, kind and beautiful! I will miss her!! Will look forward to that Great Gettin’up Morning, where we shall all meet again! Thanks for all the memories, Ruth!
February 16, 2024
To the extended Blake and Bolinger Families:
On behalf of the 300-plus members of the Veterans of Global Missions Association (VGMA), please allow me to express our collective sense of grief and condolences upon the passing of our dear colleague, Sister Ruth Blake.
She brightened every room she entered and we will all feel the loss of her presence. Her passing is not a defeat, but a victory. It is not an end, but a glorious beginning.
Today, we give thanks to God for a life well lived and an eternal life well deserved!
Jerry L. Burns
Chairman / VGMA / Veterans of Global Missions Association UPCI
Beautiful, kind, authentic, wise woman of God and true Elder in our lives. She was (and her example will always continue to be) a blessing to those that had the privilege of knowing her. She was not only our Pastor’s wife, she was our friend and cared about the whole person, not just our souls. We rejoice that she finished her journey well and is with her Savior and Lord, but our hearts ache because Sister Ruth Blake will be greatly missed. We love you CKAC and Blake family. You are in our prayers – Mary, Keith, Ben & Elaina, The Matthews