James R. "Jim" Blair, age 96 of Cambridge, Ohio went to be with His Lord Jesus Thursday, August 27, 2009 following a short stay at the Red Carpet Health Care Center in Cambridge. Born December 27, 1912, in Cambridge , Ohio , Mr. Blair realized there were not many things for teens to do, even when he was growing up, for recreation and "to keep kids off the streets, he founded the S.A.L.T. Factory, Inc. teen center when he was 79 years old. Mr. Blair started Blair's New Furniture & Upholstery in 1937, having worked for many years for the local Suitt Brothers Chair Factory which closed in the 1950's. Mr. Blair is a member of Beckett Avenue United Methodist Church, where he became a Christan for many years, and has been a member of the Gideon's International for nearly 50 years, having helped place Bibles in the U.S. and in some foreign countries during his travels to Canada , Mexico, Europe, Kenya , Egypt and Israel . He was also a member of the Cambridge Free Methodist Church for many years, having been Sunday School Superintendent, Lay Leader and a Sunday School teacher at both churches.
Mr. Blair has written several editorials, especially on gambling, for the Daily Jeffersonian and for the past five years has published nearly fifty of his own religious articles in the Daily Jeffersonian as a ministry to serve His Lord. In the 1950's, he was assistant editor of Strangers and Pilgrims, a religious newspaper that continued for six years in Byesville , Ohio . In 2001, James was honored as a Person of the Year in the Daily Jeffersoninan. Two years later, he was inducted into the State of Ohio Senior Citizens Hall of Fame due to his contributions to society in spite of his age. In his youth, Mr. Blair served 3 years in the Civilian Conservation Corps CCC's to help support his mother with the youngest of her 10 children.
His life story has just recently been accepted by "Unshackled!" which is reputed to be the longest running live radio broadcast in America or perhaps the world. His story will be dramatized in Chicago at the Pacific Garden Mission on October 10, 2009 and a second segment is tentatively scheduled for October 17, 2009. His debut is scheduled to be broadcast over nearly 2000 radio ststions around the world and in ten different languages during the weeks of January 31, 2010 through February 13, 2010. Their website for hearing his featured life is http://www.unshackled.org/listen home.html or contact www.unshackled.org.for more information.
Mr. Blair was preceded in death by his parents, Samuel M. Blair and Anna Hosfelt Blair. His beloved wife, Wanda, preceded him to heaven on May 29, 1997, following 60 years of marriage, along with two infant children, Carol Lee and James Alfred Blair. Six brothers, Bill, Ray, Samuel, Edward, Ellis and Kenny Blair and two sisters, Alice Sparks and Lucille Miller also preceded him in death.
James is survived by one son, John D. Blair of Cambridge , and two daughters, Judith M. Danny Allender of Byesville, Ohio , and Jean Charles Melanko of Cambridge and one daughter-in-law, Joann Blair. He is survived by one sister, Anna Jones, of Cambridge , and one sister-in-law, Grace Anderson of Beach City , Ohio .
Also surviving him are seven grandchildren: John A. Ann Blair, Kimberly John Charlton, James R. Darla Blair, Robin Dan Boyer-Jackman, Shane A. McCance, Andrea Chris Miles, Justin Kandi Greer, and seventeen great-grandchildren and three great- great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.
Friends may call Sunday from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 at Bundy-Law Funeral Home where the funeral service will be held Monday at 11:00 a.m. with Rev. Randy Mercer and Rev. Sturman Moore officiating. Burial will follow the service in the New Buffalo Cemetery , Buffalo , Ohio .
Memorial Contributions may be made to The Gideons International at P.O. Box 983, Cambridge, Ohio or to The S.A.L.T. Factory Teen Center, P.O. Box 67, Cambridge, Ohio 43725. On line condolences mat be made to www.bundy-lawfuneralhome.com .