Richard Blair

Kerrville Richard Arthur Blair was born in Brillion, Wisconsin, on August 4, 1936. As a boy, he loved the outdoors and spent his free hours exploring the woods of what is now Council Grounds State Park where he grew up in Merrill, Wisconsin. He enlisted in the Army at the age of 17, where he served at Fort Polk and Fort Hood. At Fort Polk, he was able to enjoy the outdoors, as he was responsible for manning a remote relay station deep in the piney woods. He later joined the Air Force, where he had the pleasure of serving for a year in Okinawa. He later met his wife, Martha, while serving at James Connally Air Force Base in Waco.

After leaving the Air Force in 1963, he worked in the NorthWest and MidWest until moving to Texas when he was offered a job with Todd Shipyards in Galveston in the late 1960s. He remained in the HoustonGalveston area until 1975. While there he, purchased a sailboat and taught his children to sail in Galveston Bay. His passion for sailing and the water continued when he relocated to Beaumont, where he and Martha remained until their youngest daughter, Katy, graduated from high school. In Beaumont, he had another sailboat which he kept on Sabine Lake. He and Martha began scuba diving in the Caribbean at this time as well. He also took the time to earn his Bachelors Degree. After Katys graduation, he and Martha relocated to the Hill Country, where he made a daily commute from Canyon Lake to Kelly AFB. In his spare time he completed his Masters Degree. He also had another sailboat, this time on Canyon Lake. It was about this time when he and Martha began skiing, which they enjoyed until January of this year.

After his retirement from Kelly in 1992, he and Martha relocated to Austin so she could finish her career and he could work as a contractor. After Marthas retirement, they traveled extensively, especially in the Southwest United States. They spent months on the road living in their RV. They also volunteered and worked at a variety of locations, including a time at Guadalupe Mountains National Park. Here he was responsible for hiking remote trails looking for hikers who had over extended themselves. This required him to hike out and be gone two days at a time. He maintained this level of fitness almost until the end of his life.

Richard always set an excellent example for his children and grandchildren. He lived his life according to Gods word. He was the epitome of practicing moderation in all things. He was married to Martha for 48 years. His son Rick and his wife Pam live in Kerrville and have two sons, Bryan and Nathan. His daughter Johanna Schorck and her husband Steve live in Llano and have two daughters, Blair and Stephanie. His youngest daughter, Katy Blossman, and her husband Eric live in Lakeway and have three daughters, Madison, Lauren, and Ella. He was a benefit to this world and will be deeply missed.

ation will be held at Kerrville Funeral Home, Kerrville on Tuesday, December 29, 2009 from 68PM.

A Memorial Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Wednesday, December 30, 2009 at 1:30PM at Notre Dame Catholic Church, Kerrville.

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