Raymond Blair

Raymond H. Blair, a long time Abilene resident, passed away peacefully at home in Lubbock on Friday December 7, 2012 at the age of 96. Funeral service will be 10:00 AM, Wednesday, December 12th at Elmwood Funeral Home Chapel, 5750 Hwy 277 South in Abilene, Texas. Visitation will be Tuesday, December 11th from 5:00 7:00 PM at Elmwood Funeral Home.
Raymond was born on January 22, 1916 in Parker County near Boyd, Texas to Emery Wesley Blair and Julia Ann Sanders Blair. He was the last of twelve children. He graduated from High School in Springtown and later from Tarleton Junior College in Stephenville where he was the leading scorer on the 1940 State Champion Basketball Team. After college, he began a long career with Southwestern Bell Telephone that would span more than forty years. During WWII, he served as a Seabee in the Navy, stationed in the Aleutian Islands. He later attended Officer Candidate School and then served as an Ensign in the Pacific Theatre. After the war he resumed his career with Southwestern Bell. He married Mary Claude Blacklock from Ranger, Texas on September 13, 1948, the beginning of a long and loving union until her death in 2003.
In his later years, Raymond spent many hours listening to his collection of traditional Country and Western music. He was also an avid fan of the Texas Rangers, The Dallas Mavericks, and the Dallas Cowboys but most of all he enjoyed long conversations with his many friends.
Raymond is survived by his daughter Linda Kolb and her husband Troy of Lufkin, Texas son, Gary Blair and his wife, Phyllis of Lubbock, Texas Grandchildren Charles and Robert Philp of Lufkin, Drew Blair of Lubbock and Lacey Blair of Denver, Colorado and nine great grandchildren.
Raymond was a kind, generous and loving man who will be missed by all who knew him.

Visitation

Elmwood Funeral Home
5750 HWY 277 South
Abilene, TX  79606
Tuesday, December 11, 2012
57 PM

Service

Chapel Service

Elmwood Funeral Home Chapel
5750 HWY 277 South
Abilene, TX  79606
Wednesday, December 12, 2012
10:00 AM

Cemetery

Elmwood Memorial Park
5750 HWY 277 South
Abilene, TX  79606