James A. Blair, 79

Shrewsbury - James A. Blair, 79, died Saturday, Nov. 10, 2007 at UMass Memorial Medical Center - University Campus after a short illness.

He leaves his beloved and cherished wife of 57 years, Linda (Steur) Blair; his sister, Beatrice McKim and her husband, Daniel; his sister-in-law, Irma Lespasio and her husband, Ralph; and nieces, nephews and cousins. He was predeceased by his mother, Josephine (Hunninghacker).

Born Dec. 25, 1927 in Forest Hills section of Jamaica Plain, he was schooled in Jamaica Plain and went to Farm and Trade School on Thompson Island. He joined the Merchant Marines in 1944 and the U.S. Army in 1945, serving in Germany for four years as a member of the Occupation Force. In 1950, he married the love of his life, Linda, in Augsburg, Germany.

Mr. Blair worked for several companies as a tool and die maker and was later employed with RCA and Digital, before retiring from Digital in 1990 as a support engineer.

He was a dedicated Mason and Shriner, with Masonry and the Shrine being a major part of his life. He was a member of the Matthew John Whittall Lodge A.F. & A.M. in Shrewsbury and was the proud recipient of the Joseph Warren Medal in 1994. He was the past president and director of the Worcester Shrine Club, where he served as chair of the Transportation Committee and the Membership Committee. He also loved to ride his Minikar in all the parades that the Shriners were invited to.

His other achievements and memberships include receiving the Robert Gardner Wilson, Jr. Medal; past president of the Acacia Club and of the Germania Club in Worcester; associate board member at the Shriners Hospital for Children; past chair for the Parades in Charlton; member of Aleppo Shriners A.A.O.N.M.S.; and was adjutant at Aleppo; a member of the Northborough Acacia Club; a member of the Scottish Rites; and a member of the Fitchburg Shrine Club.

Funeral services were held Nov. 14 from the Britton-Shrewsbury Funeral Home, with burial at Mountain View Cemetery. Memorial donations may be made to the Worcester County Shrine Club Continued from previous page Transportation Fund, c/o Arthur E. Curtis, R-211, 88 Masonic Home Rd., Charlton, MA 01507.