Blair, Robert D. (1925 - 2012)

BLAIR, DEWEY, RAY, SORENSEN, SCHMIDT, BURDETTE, HUFFMAN, HOCKETT

Posted By: Denise Wurner (email)
Date: 8/14/2013 at 13:27:15

Robert D. Blair - Age 87

Robert "Bob" Dale Blair was born on June 5, 1925 to Percy and Hazel (Dewey) Blair in Harlan, Iowa. He attended the Harlan schools through his junior year. On the day before his eighteenth birthday, he enlisted in the United States Navy. He received schooling in Memphis, Tennessee and Casco Bay, Maine and was also stationed on the USS Burrows out of Norfolk, Virginia.

He was honorably discharged from service on March 9, 1946, just nine months before the end of World War II. He returned home and on March 4, 1947, was united in marriage to Lois Ray in Troy, Kansas. They had four children: Craig, Keith, Deb, and Lori.

Bob worked for the hatchery and Frank Arnold in Harlan before moving to Omaha, Nebraska, Council Bluffs, Iowa, Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and Haywarden, Iowa, where he owned and operated catalog stores.

He had recently retired from West Lake Hardware in Council Bluffs where he was known at the "Paint Man" for the past twenty-two years.

Bob enjoyed bowling, taking walks, fishing, playing cribbage and golfing. He even got a hole in one!

Bob died on Sunday, August 19, 2012 at Mercy Hospital in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, having attained the age of eighty-seven years, two months, and fourteen days. He was preceded in death by his parents and sisters Dorothy Sorensen and Lois Schmidt.

He is survived by his wife of sixty-five years Lois Blair of Marion, Iowa; sons Craig Blair and his wife Vivian of Marion and Keith Blair of Flandreau, South Dakota; daughters Deb and her husband Mike Burdette of Boone, Iowa and Lori Huffman of Boone; eleven grandchildren; nineteen great-grandchildren; sister Arletha Hockett of Tennant, Iowa; other family members and friends.

Pastor Steven Chellew officiated the 1:00 PM Graveside Service on Thursday, August 23, 2012 at the Harlan Cemetery. Serving as casket bearers were Craig Blair, Keith Blair, Erik Brandau, Tom Burdette, Jeff Lendt, and Robby Blair. Military Rites were provided by Shelby County VFW Post No. 941 and the Harlan American Legion Helmer Reyelt Post No. 150.

Source: pauleyjones.com (Pauley Jones Funeral Home)
Posted by permission