Robert Frederic Blair (1979)

BLAIR, CHAFFIN, ANDERSON, SMITH, WALKER

Posted By: Treva Patterson
Date: 4/22/2006 at 15:25:04

Winterset Madisonian
Winterset, Iowa
Wednesday, July 25, 1979
Page 22

Robert Blair Dies at 72

Robert Frederic Blair, son of George J. and Hattie Chaffin Blair, was born September 21, 1906 in Madison County and died at his home in St. Charles July 3, 1979 at the age of 72.

He was married to Alice Anderson July 18, 1951 and to this union there was a daughter, Margaret.

He graduated from the St. Charles High School with the class of 1925, then went west to Portland, Oregon, joining the Merchant Marines and later was employed by Socony-Mobil and Standard Oil for twenty years aboard their ships, working up to Chief Engineer. At the time of World War II these ships came under navy authority. He served on more than fifty ships, one of which was torpedoed at sea. At the close of the War he was a commander.

He returned to St. Charles in 1946 and farmed the home place north of town for several years. Later he moved into town and worked as Stationary Engineer for Firestone Tire and Rubber Company in Des Moines for thirteen years, retiring in 1968.

At the time of his death he was a member and trustee of the St. Charles United Presbyterian Church and a trustee of Blair Chapel.

He was preceded in death by his parents and a brother, Rex. He is survived by his wife, Alice; a daughter, Margaret of Davenport; a daughter by a previous marriage, Carole Smith, of El Dorado Springs, Missouri; two grandchildren, Gregory and Audrey Smith and a sister, Georganna Walker of Hunters, Washington.

A service was held at the Peterson Funeral Home in Indianola, July 6 with Mr. Arthur Eady of Indianola officiating. Interment was at Blair Chapel Cemetery near St. Charles.

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Madison Obituaries maintained by Linda Griffith Smith.
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