Robert Allan Blair

1956

Robert Allan Blair, 79, of St. Albans, passed away Saturday, June 3, 2017.

He was born on May 6, 1938 in Huntington, West Virginia to the late Wilma Rose Childers Blair and Harold Wade Blair.

Bob is survived by his wife of 56 years, Elizabeth Joan Blair, three children, Beverly Eileen Blair Huff, Sandra Lynn Neil (Gary), Robert Wade Blair and granddaughter, Blair Elizabeth Huff. Robert and Elizabeth were married June 10, 1961.

Robert attended Enslow Elementary, J. E. Robins Elementary, Woodrow Wilson Jr. High, and graduated from Greenbrier Military School in 1956. He attended University of Cincinnati and graduated from West Virginia State College in 1961 with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and R. O. T. C. honors of distinguished military graduate. He received Regular Army commission as 2nd Lieutenant in the Medical Service Corps of the U.S. Army. At discharge he had received the rank of Captain. He was employed by the U.S. Postal Service, was an accounting systems salesman with National Cash Register and retired from sales with Sears, Roebuck and Company.

Robert was baptized and a member of Calvary Baptist Church in 1953 and transferred membership to Bream Memorial Presbyterian Church in 1970, where he was an active member serving as a Deacon and Elder. The motto he lived by was “God, Country, and Family”.

Robert was a Life Member of the Greenbrier Military School Alumni Association, served on the Alumni Board of Directors and received the Mr. Greenbrier Award for his many years of enduring love, devotion, and service to Greenbrier Military School and its Alumni Association. He served as President of the Charleston Sears’ Retiree Group for over 10 years.

A visitation of family and friends will be held from 6:00 to 8:00 pm on Wednesday, June 7, 2017 at Bartlett-Chapman Funeral Home, St. Albans. Visit his tribute page at ChapmanFuneralHomes.com to share memories with the family.

Funeral Services will be held at 2pm on Thursday, June 8, 2017 at Bartlett-Chapman Funeral Home, St. Albans with the Rev. Jim Robinson officiating. Interment will follow at Highland Cemetery, Huntington with military honors performed by James E. Marshall American Legion Post # 187.

Bartlett-Chapman Funeral Home, family-owned and located at 409 Sixth Avenue, St. Albans is honored to serve the Blair family.

To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Robert Allan Blair please visit our Sympathy Store.

Comments

One of the reasons the Class of 1956 50th Golden Anniversary GMSAA Reunion was the greatest Reunion in the history of our Reunions was because Bob Blair was on the Planning Committee with Charlie Duncan, Herb Pearis, and Deak Roberts. Bob was an extraordinary individual who possessed an exceptional ability to work quietly, behind the scenes, to achieve whatever task he had to do. The attendance by Class Members at the 2006 Golden 50th Anniversary of the Class of 1956, was the most by far over any previous Class Reunion. Bob received the coveted Mr. Greenbrier Award for his long and total dedication to GMSAA. He is probably best remembered for his incredible work to find our “missing”. He did a magnificent job and made a really tough task look easy. Bob Blair, truly a unique one of us. It is an Honor to have had Bob, and his wonderful wife, Betty, for friends for so many years. I wrote a Poem in Honor of Bob entitled “GOODBYE DEAR FRIEND”. It is on the GMSAA Website. We have all lost Good Friends. I encourage you to read it. It is one of the best out of over 400 Poems I have written since 2009. Greenbrier Forever. Deak