Frank Edward Blake, 88, of St. Ignace, was a pilot who took bread, mail, and hospital patients to and from Mackinac Island after World War II. He worked to develop the airport at St. Ignace. Mr. Blake, formerly of Carpentersville, Illinois, passed away December 31, 2007.

He was born in Engadine in Garfield Township August 30, 1919, to the Edward Clark Blake and Mildred Ethel (nee Duff) Blake.

Mr. Blake was graduated from Michigan Technological University with degrees in forestry and business administration. He was a flight instructor during World War II and taught aspiring pilots.

In Rochester, Minnesota, he met and married Shirley Lou Streiff.

After the war, he returned to Michigan, where, with his partner, Mr. Blake develop the St. Ignace airport on the site where the current Mackinac County Airport stands. Besides delivering bread and mail to Mackinac Island during the winter months, Mr. Blake was dubbed by some on the Island "the stork," because over the years, many Island mothers-to-be were flown to area hospitals by Mr. Blake.

He was a manager at Scott Paper Company in Oconto Falls, Wisconsin, and Hill Nursery in Illinois, and later went into business with Mackay Nursery in Wisconsin.

Upon retirement, he and his wife moved back to St. Ignace, where he served on the board of trustees of Moran Township.

He is survived by two children and their families, Luana and Carl Mitchell of Minneapolis, Minnesota, and Forrest Blake of Granville, Ohio, and three grandchildren, Carolyn and Kay Mitchell and Spencer Blake.

Mr. Blake was preceded in death by his wife of 62 years, Shirley, and his sister, Adelaide Davis.

A private service at United Methodist Church in St. Ignace will be Friday, August 8, for the family.