H. Donald Blair

Blair, H. Donald, of Germantown Ohio, passed away peacefully on April 3, 2018. Don was born in Toledo, Ohio on September 24, 1921 to the late Horace and Ethel (Overly) Blair. He was the oldest of three children: Norman (deceased) and Betsy Shewmon living in Columbus Ohio. He graduated from Bellefontaine High School in 1939 and attended Ohio University in Athens, Ohio. His college education was interrupted by WWII.
Don served with the Army 60th Medical Battalion, 500th Medical Collecting Company as an amphibious infantry combat medic and surgical technician during the D-Day Invasion of Normandy. He was with the first wave that landed on Omaha Beach rendering aid to the wounded men under fire. After the front moved inland Don worked as a medical aide at both POW and indigenous persons camps treating foe and friend alike. Throughout the push into occupied Germany Don served as a surgical technician to the front line troops.
Don went back to Bellefontaine after the war and worked on the railroad. He met and married Phyllis J. Bair, daughter of Wm. J. Bair and Mona (Gamble) Bair on June 6, 1948. They moved to Columbus, Ohio where Don used the GI Bill to finished his college education at Ohio State University, earning a Bachelors Degree of Agriculture in Forestry. He worked for Columbus Pest Control and moved his family to Hilliard, Ohio.
In 1966, Don brought his family to Germantown, Ohio after taking a position with Middletown Volkswagen. Wanting to work outdoors he pursued and eventually retired from the State of Ohio's Department of Agriculture where he was a Pesticide Control Agent.
Don enjoyed traveling and the outdoors, whether it be camping, fishing, hiking or bird watching. He took classes in painting and at times he was a beekeeper and raised chickens. When the weather turned cold, one could find him in his woodworking shop making birdhouses among other items.
Don attended biannual reunions of the Army 60th Medical Battalion, the first falling about the auspicious date of June 7th. He also was an active member of the Germantown Lions Club and Germantown's Veterans Museum participating in local talks to students about his experiences in the war.
Don is survived by Phyllis, his wife of 70 years and their children, Karla (Don) Huntsberger, Rebecca (Ken) Rieger, Brice (Michele) Blair; 7 grandchildren and 4 great grandchildren. Numerous nieces and nephews are spread throughout the United States. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Germantown Veterans Museum or Germantown Lions Club. A committal service will be held Friday, May 4, 2018, at 2:30PM at the Dayton National Cemetery, Shelter A, Dayton, OH.