Joseph Lemuel Blair

Dr. Joseph Lemuel Blair passed away peacefully with family by his side on November 21, 2024.

Born December 5, 1933, to Thomas Craddock Blair and Francis Elizabeth (nee Shely) Blair. He was the sixth of seven children.  He is predeceased by his wife, Bobbie (1932-2001), and by all of his siblings: Margaret, Nancy, Tom, Carrell, Mitsy and J.D..  He is survived by his four children and their nine grandchildren:  Bob (Beckie); Ken (Susan) with Jenni and Scott; Debbie (William) Sulik with Joy, Sarah, Joe, and Emilie; and John (Beth) with Tom, Mike, and Matt.  He leaves behind a multitude of nieces and nephews, as well as grand and great-grand nieces and nephews.

Joe was a kind and generous man with a keen sense of humor and a talent for the impromptu entertainment of those around him.  HIs story telling skills, animal noises, and his legendary train whistle will be long remembered and appreciated.  He was beloved by so many for his wisdom, patience, kindness and gratitude.  He had a deep love for music and singing and loved to play his favorite piano piece “Believe Me, if All Those Endearing Young Charms”, whenever he came across a piano.

Joe was an Eagle Scout, and he became the first civilian Chaplain at Texas A&M where he was a member of the Corps of Cadets.  He originally set out to be a rancher and studied animal husbandry, but switched to Veterinary Medicine with the guidance of a veterinarian for whom he worked on a ranch in Texas.  He met his future wife Bobbie, when he heard her singing at a convention in Arkansas.  They had each spent the summer in different parts of the country while on a Youth Caravan Mission.  Among things that the two Texas natives shared was a love of music and singing. They quickly grew very close.  Eighteen months later on June 3, 1956, they were married in the chapel of Texas Tech University, which was Bobbie’s alma mater.

Joseph Blair received his Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine from Texas A & M University in 1957.  He then began a long and distinguished career as a Food Hygiene Veterinarian.  During his thirty-two year career with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Services (FSIS), Dr. Blair served as Executive Assistant for inspection operations, Deputy Director of Scientific Support and Director of Federal-State Relations.  He authored the original FSIS Sanitation Handbook and was a contributing author of the Meat Hygiene textbook.

After retiring from the USDA, Dr. Blair was a founder and Senior Vice President of the food safety consulting group HACCP Consulting, where he put his experience and expertise to work in the United States and in twelve other countries.

Throughout his career he received numerous awards and recognitions including:

–    Five USDA Outstanding and/or Superior Service Awards

• 1995 AAFHV Presidents Award (American Association of Food Hygiene Veterinarians)
• 2002 AVMA Public Service Award (American Veterinary Medical Association)
• 2003 Texas A & M University Outstanding Alumnus Award
• 2010 AAFHV Food Hygiene Veterinarian of the Year

His many hobbies included woodworking, gardening, pickle-making, traveling and singing.  “Joe Blow” has been part of the Fairfax Jubiliares Barbershop chorus for the past 48 years.

Joe Blair was many things to many people, and his time with us made our world a better place.  He will be missed, but not forgotten.

A funeral service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, December 3, 2024 at Little River United Church of Christ, 8410 Little River Turnpike, Annandale, VA 22003.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in his name to the Alzheimer’s Association: http://act.alz.org/goto/Joe_Blair