Blair - John Allan
Source: Public Opinion, Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, January 27, 1945
Rev. John Allan Blair, D.D., pastor of historic Falling Spring Presbyterian Church, died unexpectedly of a heart attack shortly after 9 o'clock this morning at the manse, 267 Philadelphia avenue. He was in his 73rd year.
Dr. Blair had complained on Thursday of what he believed to be indigestion, but felt well enough to attend the meeting of the Kittochtinny Historical Society that evening. Yesterday afternoon he was ordered to bed by his physician after he again complained of feeling ill. He was said to have spent a restful night, but this morning he suffered a sudden heart attack. He was dead upon the arrival of his physician.
A native of Crawfordsville, Ind., Dr. Blair was the son of the late Robert and Jennie Johnston Blair. He attended Wabash college, graduating in 1893, and was graduated from the Union Theological Seminary of New York in 1896. A year later he married Harriet Cleland of Indianapolis, Ind.
Dr. Blair served Presbyterian pastorates at Terre Haute, Ind., from 1897 to 1900; at Paris. Ill., from 1900 to 1906; at Falling Springs Church from 1906 until 1914; Tabernacle Presbyterian Church at Philadelphia from 1914 to 1929, returning to the local pastorate in the latter year. Wabash College conferred upon him the degree of doctor of divinity.
A man of wide interests and contacts, Dr. Blair was a successful horticulturist, propagating many species of flowers. He studied the subject deeply and experimented tirelessly, and succeeded in growing a number of rare and unusual shrubs.
Dr. Blair had been a member of the board of trustees of Wilson College since 1911 and had served in many official capacities for the Carlisle Presbytery and in the administering of the Presbyterian Ministers' fund. He was a member of Kittochtinny Historical Society and the Rotary Club, serving as president of Rotary from July, 1933 to July 1934, and a former member of the Penn Athletic Club, Philadelphia. He joined the Beta Theta Pi social fraternity while at Wabash college. During World War I he became affiliated with the Y.M.C.A. and served as a chaplain.
The last of his family, Dr. Blair is survived by his wife, who has been in ill health for a number of years, and by a nephew, three great nephews and one great niece.
Rev. Dr. Melvin W. Riddle of Central Presbyterian Church, assisted by Rev. Dr. Warren N. Nevius of Wilson College, will conduct the funeral services at the Falling Spring church Tuesday afternoon at 2:30 o'clock. Burial will be made in Falling Spring cemetery. – thanks to Kim H