Submitted by: Dan Rich

George Walter Blair

Oct. 7, 1887 – Oct. 24, 1953

South Bend Tribune, Sunday, October 25, 1953

George W. Blair, retired president of the Ball-Band Plant, Mishawaka and president of the First National Bank of Mishawaka, died at 1:45 p. m. Saturday in his residence at 345 Edgewater Dr. He had been confined to his home the last two weeks after suffering a heart attack.

Long active in civic work as well as playing an important role in the development of rubber and plastic products, Blair headed the successful United Fund campaign completed last week.

Upon his retirement from the Mishawaka Rubber and Woolen Manufacturing Co. last April, he was honored by more than 200 associates and friends at a testimonial dinner in the Oliver Hotel. He had served the Mishawaka plant 41 years during which time he held the positions of chief engineer, general superintendent and vice president before being elevated to president in 1946.

In addition to these positions, he had served as development manager of the footwear and general products division of the United States Rubber Co.

Active in community affairs, he held positions in the South Bend Rotary Club, Mishawaka Post of the American Legion, Tri-Valley Council of the Boy Scouts of America and was a member of the St. Joseph Valley of the Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite.

He was born Oct. 7, 1887, in Davenport, Ia., and came to Mishawaka 42 years ago from Iowa. On Nov. 27, 1912, he was married in Mishawaka to Donnabelle Eberhart, who survives. During World War I, he held the rank of major in the Army.

Besides his widow, he is survived by a daughter, Mrs. H. E. Bucklen, of Elkhart, Ind.; two sons, George W. Blair Jr., of Tulsa, Okla., and Frederick E., at home; a brother, B. B. Blair; a sister, Mrs. Gertrude Blair Smith, both of Tulsa, and three grandchildren.

Friends may call at the Bubb Funeral Home, Mishawaka, from 1 p. m. Monday until noon Tuesday. Private services will be held at 3 p.m. Tuesday in the residence with Manly F. Miller, reader from the First Church of Christ, Scientist, of which he was a member.

Burial will be in City Cemetery.