Lewis E. Blakely, Jr.

Lewis E. Blakely Jr., known all his life as “Jerry,” passed away peacefully on March 12, 2025 at 95 years of age. His father, Lewis E. Blakely, Sr., his mother, Nina A. Blakely, and beloved wife of 66 years, Jean (Selby) Blakely, preceded him in death. His children, Scheryl Simms, Kelly (Patti) Blakely, and Dennis (Sharon) Blakely, as well as many grandchildren and great-grandchildren survive him. Jerry was a good father that supported his children’s endeavors while instilling strong work and behavior ethics in them.

A life-long resident of the Dayton, Ohio area, Jerry grew up in the Northridge area and settled in the Kettering area as an adult. He earned a Bachelor degree in Chemical Engineering at Purdue University and a commission as an Ensign in the U.S. Navy Reserve. He married Jean E. Selby at her parents’ home in West Lafayette. After two years of service, mostly aboard the USS Wyandot (AKA-92), he returned to Dayton to work for National Cash Register (NCR) in the research and development section, earning his Professional Engineer License along the way. Jerry joined several NCR co-workers to form Djinnii Industries where he manufactured the color-changing material used in “Mood Rings” that were popular in the early 1970’s. The company evolved through several ownership changes and Jerry finally retired from Industrial Fiberglass Industries.

After both Jerry and Jean retired, they volunteered to serve as poll workers at a local precinct. Jerry became a courier for the Kettering Fire Department, shuttling documents between stations. In later years, Jerry lovingly cared for Jean as she battled dementia. Jerry remained devoted to her even after he could no longer be her primary caretaker and became a very frequent visitor at her care facility.

Jerry was a man of quiet intelligence who had a wry, subtle sense of humor. He valued knowledge, integrity, and perseverance, believing that success came from effort rather than connections. He enjoyed numerous hobbies and interests, such as building and flying model airplanes, rock collecting, tinkering with anything involving cars. Above all, he enjoyed clocks. In his home, midnight extended for many minutes as all the clocks chimed in a cacophony of styles. Jerry was a lifelong learner, staying abreast of technological developments through the many magazines he received.

Jerry’s final years at Oak Creek Terrace were challenging. His curiosity sometimes landed him in hot water with the staff, despite his good intentions. While his health slowly declined, he maintained his mischievous nature when engaging with the staff. The staff cared for him with the compassion and tolerance and his son Kelly provided dedicated support through Jerry’s elder years.

Visitation for Jerry will occur March 22, 2025 from 10 AM to Noon at the Routsong Funeral Home located at 2100 E Stroop Rd. Kettering OH 45429. If desired, in lieu of flowers, please send memorial gifts for Jerry to the Alzheimer’s Association (www.alz.org) in recognition of supporting his wife in her battle.

We will hold a private memorial service at Woodland Cemetery (118 Woodland Ave, Dayton, OH 45409). Family should gather at the entrance to the cemetery at 12:45 PM following the visitation. A family gathering will follow at the Olive Garden Restaurant located at 6722 Miller Lane, Dayton, OH 45414.