OBITUARIES
San Luis Obispo Tribune (Weekly), Volume XIII, Number 52, 28 July 1882
DIED - Blitch - At his residence, near Cambria, July 24th, 1882, Rev. Dr. J. H. Blitch

"The Christian Index and Southwestern Baptist" Compiled by Mary McKeown Overby; published 7 Sep 1882 Page 13 Column 1
Dr. Joseph Luke Blitch, the son on Benj. and Harriett Blitch, died at his residence in Cambria, Cal., July 25th, 1882, after a painful illness of nine months.

'The History of Solano County' (CA)
Dixon Tribune
Page 315
In November 1872, Rev. J. L. Blitch began to preach to the church as an assistant to the pastor, and continued as such until the death of Rev. D. King, which as above stated, was October 3rd, 1877. Then he was chosen pastor of the church, and continued to serve as such until July 1878. The Rev. O. C. Wheeler, Rev. C. A. Bateman, Rev. C. A. Buckbee ....

The Rev. J. H. Blitch held divine service at Cayucos in 1881, preaching at Stone's new hotel on the first Sunday of each month. On the second Sunday he held forth at the Presbyterian Church at San Luis Obispo; on the third Sunday he discoursed at Green Valley, and on the fourth Sunday at the Cambria Presbyterian Church. To the great regret of his numerous friends, Dr Blitch died in Cambria July, 1882, falling almost literally in the harness, and while yet his work proceeded. His talents were described as of a good order, and his piety unaffected.

Biographical Sketches of California Baptist Ministers as Printed in the Baptist Encyclopedia' by William Cathcart, Vol 1& 2, 1881 & 1883

Blitch, Joseph Luke, D D was born Mar 3, 1839 in Duval Co FL is the son of Rev Benj Blitch, an eminent Baptist preacher. He was converted at fifteen, but "boy conversions" being then unpopular, he was baptized two years later. He began talking for Jesus as soon as converted, and the Sunday after his baptism he went fifty miles to hear a great preacher. Crowds had gathered at Ready Creek; the preacher failed, and young Brother Blitch took charge of the meeting, and almost unconsciously began preaching from the words, "Behold the Lamb of God!" From that day till now he has preached every Sunday save one from one to four sermons. He graduated at Mercer University in 1863, the only graduate that year, preaching to three churches while in college, having been ordained by the Macedonia church in 1860. He was pastor at Aberlare, near Augusta, several years. At one time he immersed 99 converts before leaving the water. He next served Shiloh, Macedonia, and Lafayette churches; thence to Macon, GA where he established the Second church and at the close of a two year pastorate left it with a good house and over one hundred members. He was pastor one year at Little Rock, AR; two years at Marshall, TX; Boenville, one year; Lee Summit, MO three years. In 1873 he went to CA; was pastor at Dixon six years, taking an active part, officially, in education and mission interests. In 1879 he located at Walla Walla, Washington Territory, and has already organized a vigorous church. About 2000 have been converted under his ministry, or whom he has baptized 1636. La Grange University, MO conferred upon him the degree of D D. Several of his sermons have been published, one of which, "Thy kingdom come," so delighted Spurgeon, of London, that he said of it, "Every sentence carries the sound of a glorious victory. I love it." [page 107]

He may be buried in the San Luis Cemetery, San Luis Obispo County, CA where his son Joseph Dudley is buried. The cemetery has no record however.