Eugene Frank Blair Sr.

Gene was born in Silver Creek, Georgia and was a graduate of Central High School, class of 1936, Chattanooga, Tennessee, with his bride-to-be, Reva Sivley. He entered the Army and served in the south Pacific during World War ll, as well as in various places in the states and overseas. Gene and Reva retired to Chattanooga in 1966 after 21 years of service. He then worked for the Volunteer Army Ammunition plant, Athens Distributing Company, and later the U.S. Post Office. He was a member of Tyner United Methodist Church where he served in many capacities for 45 years. Gene was a pitcher, known as "Lefty Blair," for Rossville Hardware and Railway Express and was a member of the Chattanooga Old-Timers Hall of Fame.

Gene and Reva moved to the Hickory Valley Retirement Center in 2010. He was preceded in death by his parents, Harry Leroy and Adelaide Mable, brothers Leroy and Robert and sisters Mary Louise and Mable.

Gene is survived by his wife of 71 years, Reva, Chattanooga; daughter and son-in-law, Janice and Robert Watson, Woodstock, Georgia, his son and daughter-in-law, Eugene Franklin Blair, Jr. and Vicki, Hixson his brother, John Blair, Chattanooga, sisters Frances Barge, Temple, GA and Lillian Nicholson, Villarica, GA; in addition to 6 grandchildren, 14 great-grandchildren, and several nieces and nephews

Visitation will be from 4-7 PM Thursday at the East Chapel of Chattanooga Funeral Home 404 S. Moore Road, East Ridge, TN

Services will be at 12:30 PM Friday at the funeral home chapel. Interment will be in the Chattanooga National Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, please make contributions to Tyner United Methodist Church and Bethel Bible Village.