J. T. Morriss & Son Funeral Homes

Blair, COL Bruce E.

Friday, February 17, 2006

COL Bruce E. Blair, U. S. Army (Retired), 84, of Petersburg, passed away Friday, February 17, 2006. Born in Akron, Ohio, he was the son of the late Everett M. and Wynona Clause Blair. COL Blair had 35 years of distinguished service in the U. S. Army, serving in WWII, Korea, and Vietnam. He was preceded in death by his loving wife of 55 years, Dorothy M. Blair. He is survived by his son, Gary E. Blair and wife, Donna of Alabama; daughters, Donna Snowberger and husband, James of New York, and Pam Tomko and husband, Kenny of Prince George; grandchildren, Bruce Blair, Donnete Blair, Pamela Witte, James Snowberger, Jr., Jennifer Tomko, and Kristen Tomko; great-grandchildren, Dakota Hoomes, Kansas Hoomes, Morgan Witte, and Brandon Witte; and a brother, Clare Blair of Texas. The family will receive friends from 7 to 8:30 PM Sunday, February 19, at the Petersburg Chapel of J. T. Morriss & Son Funeral Home & Cremation Service. A funeral service will be conducted at 10AM Monday, at Monumental Baptist Church, Petersburg, with the Rev. Barry Ginn, Pastor officiating . Interment will full military honors will follow at Southlawn Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions to Monumental Baptist Church Building Fund, P. O. Box 1551, Petersburg, VA 23805 or Crater Community Hospice, 840 W. Roslyn Road, Suite E, Colonial Heights, VA 23834. Condolences may be registered at www.jtmorriss.com.

Pam,Kenny,Donna,and Jim:
My sympathies go to you and your families. I have known your beautiful family for most of my life, and had the priveledge of visiting "Uncle Bruce" a few weeks ago. It was so good to see him, and to visit our pasts and all the fun our families shared.
My thoughts, and prayers have been with you since I received word of your dad's journey to be with Our Lord and Savior, and your mom and my folks.
I asked a special Blessing for you during this difficult time, knowing how hard it is.
I am truly sorry I could not attend the services, but my heart was with you.
My truest wishes for peace.
Sincerely,
Doug Harris

Posted by: Doug Harris at February 22, 2006 03:42 PM

On behalf of the entire Blair family we want to thank everyone for their outpouring of kind thoughts, emails, calls, visits, and unselfish provisions during the celebration of Bruce's homecoming. We know Bruce leaves a great footprint as he passes from this life to a life of eternal peace and worship of his Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. Our church families responded with such encouragement and we thank the Lord for each of you. Pastor Barry Ginn and members of Monumental Baptist Church, we greatly appreciate your ability to rally around our family in our time of mourning, but also in the great time we had in singing, remembering, honoring and comforting each other at the funeral service. Thank you for a great time of fellowship and food after the services. We also greatly appreciate the professional and caring attitude of Tommy Peters and the directors and supporting staff of J. T. Morriss Funeral Home in Petesburg. You made this a joyous time for our family and friends. Finally, we were very honored to be a part of Bruce's final review as conducted by the soldiers from Ft. Lee. We know the "Colonel" returns your salute for a job well done.
Our love and thanks, again, to all of our friends and family!

Pam & Kenny Tomko and Donna & Jim Snowberger

Posted by: Ken Tomko at February 20, 2006 07:24 PM

I would like to express my sympathy to Col. Blair's family. Even thought he was here at Dunlop House a short time I felt that I had gotten to know him fairly well. I always thought of him as a gentleman and will remember him fondly. I only wish I could have had the opportunity to know him better.

Posted by: Nancy Oliver at February 20, 2006 11:58 AM

Other committments prohibit us from joining you today as you praise God for you father's wonderful Christian life and the witness he left to all those whose lives he touched. We have known the Blair family since 1964 when Col Blair was my first battalion commander in Munich, Germany. Since that time our paths have crossed many times. Col Blair assisted me in re-entering active duty in 1969, just in time for a tour in Vietnam. He had just returned. Mrs. Blair was like a mother to the ladies of the 242d QM Battalion and Yvonne developed a deep love for her bacause of her concern for her "flock." Col and Mrs Blair were exceptionally close, especially in their later years when they would "walk the streets" of Walnut Hill together for their health's sake. I served as their mailman for a number of years and shared in their joys and some of their sorrows during that time. We will always remember and honor this wonderful couple who have meant so much to us during the past forty-two years.
MAY GOD BLESS AND COMFORT YOU AT THIS TIME.
Ed & Yvonne Coleman

Posted by: Ed & Yvonne Coleman at February 20, 2006 08:57 AM

We were so happy to be able to visit Col. Bruce shortly before we moved 3 weeks ago. Our 4 children love he and his wife dearly. I know my father, Dr. Tom Lovorn, was very close to both of them and had remained faithful to Col. Bruce, even having the joy of visiting with him a few hours prior to his passing.

We want everyone to know that our thoughts and prayers go out to the family. We are so grateful to have had both Col. Bruce and Dottie as close and personal friends.

Posted by: John & Christine Stawarz at February 19, 2006 11:23 PM