CWO (Ret’d) Jack Mundell Blair
CWO (Ret’d) Jack Mundell Blair, CD – RC Sigs/Comm Op (213) (1922 – 2015)
November 08,2015
With sincere regret and great sadness I forward this obituary received from Jack’s son-in-law, John Watson.
Jack and I served together in 740 Comm Sqn Nanaimo from Sep 1970 to Aug 1973; Jack the Sqn Ops CWO and me the Sqn Ops O. Throughout the remainder of my 36+ year career, I never forgot the sound advice and wise counsel Jack provided me during those early formative years of my career. Jack epitomized the word gentleman and, was an incredibly loyal and dedicated career professional in every sense of the word. Following our departure from Nanaimo in Aug 1973, Peggy and I remained lifelong friends with Jack and Joan visiting them on numerous occasions over the years; seeing them for our last visit in Apr 2010. We will never forget our valued lifelong friendship with Jack and Joan and, the extended Blair family. RIP Mr. Blair!
Jack was predeceased by his beloved wife of 69 years Joan, son Jack and daughter Sandy (Watson). He is survived by daughter Joanne Burroughs (Keith), son Jim (Jane), son-in-law John Watson (Valerie), daughter-in-law Cheryl Blair (Gord), grandchildren Patrick (Deborah), Heather, Brandi (Ian), Krista (Graeme) and great-grandchildren Marion, Jackson, Nathan and Markus.
Jack was born in New Westminster, BC and grew up in Vancouver’s west end. He joined the Canadian Army (RC Sigs) in 1939, was posted to England in 1940 and saw active service in Northern Europe 1944-45. In 1960 he served with the United Nations peacekeeping force in the Congo. He retired in 1974 in Nanaimo having achieved the rank of Chief Warrant Officer.
In 2014 he was made a Knight of the French Legion of Honour in recognition of his service in the liberation of France. After his military service he worked for many years at Malaspina College now known as the Vancouver Island University. In retirement he bought his own aircraft (1946 Navion, CF-JPC46) and fulfilled a lifelong passion for flying. At his request there was no service.