Obituary of Robert Ralph Blair

Rest in Peace, Father.

Robert “Bob” Ralph Blair, 78, son of Rev. Ralph Loyd and Burla “Ruth” (Osborn) Blair, passed away on January 14, 2018 at the William S. Middleton Memorial Veterans Hospital in Reno, Nevada after a series of debilitating strokes.

Bob was born on January 2, 1940 in Camdenton, Missouri, the second of 4 children, including his sister, Wilma Ruth Bethel, and brothers, Billy John and infant brother James “Donald” Blair, all of whom preceded him in death.

Bob grew up in Camdenton and, as a youth, he enjoyed piloting a privately-owned aircraft with over 100 solo hours and skydiving. After graduating from Camdenton High School in 1958 he joined the USAF. While stationed at Offutt Air Force Base in Omaha, Nebraska, he achieved A1C status as a Personnel Specialist. He had hoped to become part of the USAF Security Service, wishing to go to Russia, China or Germany.  Bob was Honorably Discharged on March 20, 1964.

While in the service he met and married his first wife, Patricia Ann Teel, and they had 2 daughters, Angela (Bob) Brooks-French and Dee (Shane) McCoy.  After divorcing in early 1965, Bob moved to California where he became involved in the tour bus industry (with short forays into self-employment) which he maintained until retirement.  

On December 22, 1968 he married the love of his life, Carolyn Rose Abbott, in Oakland, California. In 1971 they moved to Davis, California and had 2 sons, Robert (Cathy) Blair, Jr and Steven Blair.  Bob and Carolyn spent many years in Davis raising their sons and being part of the community.  Upon retirement, they moved just outside of Reno, Nevada to the Cold Springs area where Carolyn enjoyed adding to her various collections and Bob loved meeting new friends. They both enjoyed spending time with their grandchildren.  Bob lost his best friend and wife, Carolyn, on August 14th, 2008 due to complications of Crohn’s Disease.

Bob is survived by his 4 children, 12 grandchildren, several great-grandchildren and nieces, Teresa Fisher and Jackie Holland.

Graveside service will be held on Saturday, June 16, 2018 at 10:00 a.m. at Dale Blair Cemetery, Camdenton, Missouri. The family will welcome friends for visitation from 9:00-10:00 a.m. at Hedges-Scott Funeral Home, Camdenton, Missouri prior to graveside service.  As per his wishes, he and Carolyn will be interred side by side at the Dale Blair Memorial Cemetery in Camdenton, Missouri.

The family would like to thank the staff of the William S. Middleton Memorial Veterans Hospital for the caring concern of our loved one during his hospice stay and the respect shown to all veterans in their care.