James Richard Blocker

James Richard Blocker was born in Montgomery, Alabama on June 6, 1947, and entered his eternal home on June 5, 2025, the day before his 78th birthday.

He is preceded in death by his parents Maureen Saliba Blocker and Frank Blocker Senior, sister Sarah Blocker Booty, and brother Frank Blocker Junior.

He is survived by Marsha Thomason Blocker (his beloved wife of forty-six years); daughter Ana Arellano and granddaughter Izzy; amazing caregiver Mary Dupree; brother-in-law Phil Booty, niece Kathy Windham (David); great nephew Austin Windham (Holley); nephew James Booty; niece Kandace Plinske (Larry); great nephew Cameron (Taylor) Herring; and great nephew Cody Plinske. Cousins Fred (Gail) Barkett; Sue (Don) Switzer; Kathy (Fran) Buchon; Betty Barkett; and Jan (James) Lisenby; and cherished and loved by many God-given family and friends.

Richard lived a beautiful life loving Christ and looking forward to beginning his eternal home with Him. For those who never had the blessing of knowing Richard, he would want you to know the living Son of God, Jesus. Richard dedicated his life trying to teach that message. He had the quickest wit and was oh so funny! A man of great integrity; the kindest, most generous, humble, and loving man you could ever know. Richard was dedicated to the Alabama Emmaus Community and taught New Life Sunday School at Asbury for 27 years.

Richard’s work life began in the mid 1970’s working for the Veterans Administration Regional Office in Montgomery, Alabama and continued through his move to Biloxi, Mississippi through the mid 1980’s. Richard was most excited to join NASA’s workforce at Stennis Space Center in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi in 1985. Richard supported the Space Station Freedom Program Office after a move to Reston, Virginia 1988-1990. Richard and Marsha moved to Huntsville, Alabama in 1990, where Richard supported Marshall Space Flight Center’s (MSFC) Office of Chief Financial Operations (OCFO), and as a Resource Analyst for the Global Hydrology & Climate Center Business Office. He retired from Civil Service in 2002 and returned to work as a contractor supporting NASA at MSFC in the OCFO, officially retiring in July 2020.

Richard was a Military Veteran Honorably Discharged after serving in the U.S. Navy January 1967 through October 1968. He achieved a BS/Business Administration and Marketing Undergraduate Degree from Troy State University in 1973, along with a Master of Business Administration Graduate Studies.

If you wish to continue Richard’s legacy of giving, in lieu of flowers you may give “In Memory of Richard Blocker” to the Asbury Church (980 Hughes Road, Madison AL 35758) or Camp Sumatanga (3616 Sumatanga Road, Gallant AL 35972).

Many were blessed and deepened their faith by Richard’s walk with the Lord and he would want all to seek a closer relationship with Christ. Spend some time each day, no matter how small, in God’s Holy Word. It will be life changing!

We invite all who loved Richard to join us as we remember the Godly man we all knew him to be. Our service will be a simple visitation on Saturday June 28 from 1-3pm at Asbury Church (980 Hughes Road) in Madison Alabama. No formal service will be held but will instead be a special time of sweet remembrance and love.