In Memory Of
James Carmel Blair
1938
2019
James Carmel Blair
February 14, 1938 — November 7, 2019
James Carmel Blair died at home on November 7, 2019, at the age of 81, after a brief battle with cancer.
James is survived by his loving wife of 63 years, Dona (Justice) Blair; a son and his wife, James Randall and Jeri Blair; a daughter and her husband, Sheila Marie and Teddy Wayne Sutphin; granddaughters, Jessica Marie Blair and Sarah Elizabeth Sutphin; step-grandchildren, Jason Ashley Jett, Moises Sambrano, Tara Powell, Gilbert Sambrano; and fifteen great-grandchildren. James is also survived by a brother, Billy Oliver Blair; a sister, Linda Lou Irick, and a very special sister-in-law, Shirley (Justice) Valencia, and niece, Tanya Louise (Valencia) Halilovic.
James was born on February 14, 1938, in Pikeville, Kentucky, to the late Whetsel and Hester (Meade) Blair. In addition to his parents, James was predeceased by a son, James Reed Blair; two brothers, Bobby Joe and Albert Norman Blair; a sister, Cynthia Ann (Blair) Payne; and parents-in-law, John Allen and Bertha (Adkins) Justice.
In April 1955, at the age of seventeen, James enlisted in the U.S. Air Force. On March 1, 1956, he married his Sunday School sweetheart, Dona, and for the next 23 years, they traveled the world together with their children. James served his country honorably in Vietnam from 1971-1972. James retired on March 31, 1978, while working as a TSgt in the Foreign Technology Division at WPAFB, Dayton, Ohio. He went on to work at the U.S. Air Force Museum and retired as a pressman from the James River Corporation.
James was an avid gardener, spending many springs and summers in the yard gardening with his wife, Dona. He also enjoyed many types of music which he collected throughout the years. In earlier days, he was known to pick up a guitar and play while singing tunes. James was a kind, gentle soul who loved animals of all types, but especially his cats. He was a devoted husband and father and will be deeply missed by his family, friends, and all who knew him.
The family wishes to thank Hospice of Dayton for the tender care given to James in his last days. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Dayton or the American Cancer Society. Private services will be held for the family at a later date.
To share a memory of James or to leave a special message for his family, please click the 'Share Memories' button above.
James is survived by his loving wife of 63 years, Dona (Justice) Blair; a son and his wife, James Randall and Jeri Blair; a daughter and her husband, Sheila Marie and Teddy Wayne Sutphin; granddaughters, Jessica Marie Blair and Sarah Elizabeth Sutphin; step-grandchildren, Jason Ashley Jett, Moises Sambrano, Tara Powell, Gilbert Sambrano; and fifteen great-grandchildren. James is also survived by a brother, Billy Oliver Blair; a sister, Linda Lou Irick, and a very special sister-in-law, Shirley (Justice) Valencia, and niece, Tanya Louise (Valencia) Halilovic.
James was born on February 14, 1938, in Pikeville, Kentucky, to the late Whetsel and Hester (Meade) Blair. In addition to his parents, James was predeceased by a son, James Reed Blair; two brothers, Bobby Joe and Albert Norman Blair; a sister, Cynthia Ann (Blair) Payne; and parents-in-law, John Allen and Bertha (Adkins) Justice.
In April 1955, at the age of seventeen, James enlisted in the U.S. Air Force. On March 1, 1956, he married his Sunday School sweetheart, Dona, and for the next 23 years, they traveled the world together with their children. James served his country honorably in Vietnam from 1971-1972. James retired on March 31, 1978, while working as a TSgt in the Foreign Technology Division at WPAFB, Dayton, Ohio. He went on to work at the U.S. Air Force Museum and retired as a pressman from the James River Corporation.
James was an avid gardener, spending many springs and summers in the yard gardening with his wife, Dona. He also enjoyed many types of music which he collected throughout the years. In earlier days, he was known to pick up a guitar and play while singing tunes. James was a kind, gentle soul who loved animals of all types, but especially his cats. He was a devoted husband and father and will be deeply missed by his family, friends, and all who knew him.
The family wishes to thank Hospice of Dayton for the tender care given to James in his last days. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Dayton or the American Cancer Society. Private services will be held for the family at a later date.
To share a memory of James or to leave a special message for his family, please click the 'Share Memories' button above.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of James Carmel Blair, please visit our flower store.
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