Donald Blair

Donald Blair, son of the late Donald and Agnes Blair, passed away April 14, 2022. He was born in Aliquippa, Pennsylvania on March 6, 1932. He attended the Penn State University where he majored in dairy science. He later joined the US Army at the end of the Korean Conflict. Blair spent most of his 2-year service in Germany where he met Christel Marie Frank, of Celle, Germany. They married in 1957, lived in Aliquippa, Pennsylvania and had two daughters, Christin and Danielle. His loving wife Christel, passed away in 1978.

Blair worked for US Steel, Kaiser Aluminum and Babcock and Wilcox Research. At B & W Research in Alliance, Ohio he was employed as Safety and Radiological Administrator. In total, he was employed in Safety and Health Administration for 36 interesting years.

Blair married Bernice Sanor Doughty of Deerfield, Ohio on August 7, 1982. They built a home in Berlin Center near Berlin Lake in 1989. They were members of Berlin Center Methodist Church for nearly 30 years before moving to Alliance in the fall of 2019.

After retiring, Blair joined the Steel Valley Harmonica Club of Youngstown and played in that group for 14 years. Don and Bernice joined the Dulci-More Folk Musicians of Salem and were active members for 24 years. Blair also formed a harmonica group, “Groovin’ Grandpas” at the Alliance Area Senior Center in 2000.

Blair enjoyed bicycling and rode the Great Ohio Bicycle Adventure on his recumbent bicycle for 10 years. He was active at home and faithful in exercising, later exercising in a group. He battled the challenges of Parkinson’s with strength, courage and grace.

In addition to his parents, Blair is preceded in death by his wife, Christel; sister, Kathy Blair Blumhard; and granddaughter, Sarah DuMoulin McCallion.

He is survived by wife, Bernice Blair; daughters, Christin Blair and Danielle (Robin) Geho; stepdaughter, Natasha Doughty; stepson, Jeffery Doughty; brothers, Wayne (Nancy) Blair of Florida and Kent (Janet) Blair of New Mexico; grandchildren, Seth (Rachel) DuMoulin of New Jersey and Sarah (Bryan) Holm of California; grandson-in-law, Sam McCallion of Pennsylvania; and nine great-grandchildren.

A private memorial service will be held at the Highland Memorial Park Chapel in Beloit, Ohio with Gary Diehl officiating.  Special thanks to those at Shelia’s Haven, Beloit and to the Aultman Alliance Hospice team for the wonderful care given to Don in his last two years.