Vera Blair

It was a miracle that Vera Blair survived birth during the Allied bombing of Berlin, Germany March 3, 1945. After some difficult years, Vera and her mother immigrated to Connecticut, USA and she would soon study at UCONN, later moving to Chapel Hill, NC where she studied Hematology. During this time, she gave birth to three children. Vera moved to Tennessee with her third-born, Heath and lived a unique mountain-top experience, shattering stereotypes of the times and challenging herself with auto-repair classes, flying and teaching small airplane operations, and discovering her talents of stained glass, photography, wood carving, miniature dollhouse design, and even creating wooden bowls on the lathe. Vera became a phlebotomist, and jokingly called herself “head sticker” as she managed the medical injection team at Fort Sanders Hospital. Vera was also an avid long-distance runner, and spent lots of time caring for animals. She tamed the untamable and published her experiences. Vera was a Captain of the Civil Air Patrol and in later years became lovingly known as “Vivi” to her son Heath’s new family. Vera passed away comfortably July 11, 2021, and is survived by her partner Wallace Koehler, her children Heath Blair, Stephanie and Eric Smith, Charlie Blair, David Blair, her granddaughter Ivy Blair, and grandson Sam Blair. To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Vera Blair please visit our Sympathy Store.