Black Watch Friends:
Regret to report the passing of Al Blair last Sunday in Wolfville.
Al was Paymaster for Second Battalion in Aldershot and Gagetown however was replaced before the battalion deployed to Germany in 1961.

________________________________________

Alvin C. Blair


BLAIR, Capt. Alvin C., CD, (retired), BA, B.Ed – 94, of Wolfville, passed away Sunday, November 10, 2013 at Valley Regional Hospital surrounded by his wife and family. He was born in All Saints Hospital, Springhill where he spent his first three months in an incubator. When his uncle Rufus was annoyed with him he would say "Alvin, you weren’t born you were hatched". At a very young age he moved to Montreal with his family, he later moved to the Annapolis Valley, his "adopted home". He enlisted in the West Nova Scotia Regiment 1940, and was transferred to the Royal Canadian Artillery Corp. He manned the search light battery at Point Pleasant Park before going overseas. While overseas he was in France, Holland, Belgium and Germany in defense of Europe and was part of the freedom of Holland. He returned to Canada to be redeployed to Japan, thankfully the war ended before he deployed. Following the war he entered Acadia University in 1947 and graduated with his Bachelor of Arts in 1951. He returned to military life in 1951. He served in the Korean Conflict as a Pay Master on the front lines. He often spoke of travelling to MASH units where he was asked to assist in the operating room. Upon his return from Korea he was stationed at Camp Aldershot, Gagetown, and Camp Borden. He also served in Whitehorse where he was Pay Master of military and civilian personnel during the construction of the Alaska highway where he made treacherous weekly trips along the length of the highway. Following his retirement from the military he returned to Acadia University where graduated with his Bachelor of Education degree. He spent his teaching career at Central Kings Rural High School, where he organized a geography club. He was able to arrange a trip for forty of his students to Ottawa with the assistance Senator Frank Welch and MP Pat Nowlan. He retired from teaching after an enjoyable career. He returned to the family home in Canaan where he built a new home and for many years was a registered bee keeper and market gardener and sold his products at the Sunday flea market in Sackville. He joined the Masonic Order in Whitehorse from where he just received his 50 year jewel and then became a member of St. Georges Lodge AF & AM in Wolfville. He also was a member of Royal Arch Masons, Philae Shriners Temple, was a founding member of the Eastern Valley Shrine Club and a member of other concordant bodies. He was Past Patron of Blomidon Chapter and Evangeline Chapter Order of The Eastern Star. He was appointed Grand Representative of Michigan in Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island, official escort to his wife the Ambassador to Alaska and served on many committees. For many years he enjoyed being a member of Cannon Lodge. He was a member of the United Church of Canada, Wolfville. Alvin is survived by his loving and devoted wife of 72 years, Violet E.R. (Rafuse); daughter, Frances Robinson, Windsor; son in law, Graham Murphy, Windsor; very special sister in law, Audrey Rafuse, Hantsport; grandchildren, Timothy, Banff, Alberta; Daniel, Hollywood, Florida; Jessica (Brett) Murphy-Tetanish, Union Corner; great grandchildren, Michael Robinson and Carlee Audrianna Tetanish; sister, Helen (Caulis) Cummins; sister in law, Pat Atkinson and many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his parents, Alveretta (Smith) and Frank Blair; daughter, Audrey-Ann (Graham) Murphy; sister, Anna Mundy and brother in law, Don Mundy; brothers, Bill and Bobby; son in law, Douglas Robinson and grandson, Kenneth Robinson. Cremation has taken place, no visitation by request. Funeral service will be held at a later date. Donations in memory may be made to the Evangeline Chapter No. 15 - Memorial Scholarship Fund. Arrangements have been entrusted to the White Family Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Kentville. Online inquiries or condolences may be directed to www.whitefamilyfuneralhome.com.
Click here to View Condolences
________________________________________
With thanks to Ian Fraser for the foregoing.

R. I. P.
NEMO ME IMPUNE LACESSIT