Dr. Donald Ferguson Blair Sr.

Dr. Donald Ferguson Blair, Sr. -VALDOSTA - Dr. Donald Ferguson Blair, Sr., Captain, Retired USN, 86, of Valdosta, died Monday, June 13, 2011 at South Georgia Medical Center. -He was born on October 27, 1924 in Palo Alto, California to the late John Edward and Lorraine Ferguson Blair. Dr. Blair was a member of the First Presbyterian Church. He graduated from the Columbia University, College of Physicians and Surgeons in 1948. Dr. Blair was attending the Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island when World War II began and had to leave the University to join on the U.S. Army and was later awarded his diploma in 1945 from the university. He married Ruth "Ricky" Ulrich who was a student nurse at Presbyterian Hospital who was also in the 1948 class. -His first rotation as an intern at Bassett Hospital in Cooperstown, New York was in obstetrics and he was officially OB-GYN after that. When asked why he chose the field, he said it was because it almost always had a happy ending. Before he stopped counting he had delivered 1778 babies. He joined the Navy when doctors were drafted for the Korean War and after completing his residency in the Navy, he opened a private practice in Auburn, NY for a few years. He returned to active duty in the Navy in 1959 and retired in 1983 as Captain, Medical Corps, USN. During his career, he was Chief of the Outpatient Department at Jacksonville Naval Hospital, served as a Medical Advisor on behalf of the U.S. Naval Advisory Group to the Republic of Korea Navy and completed his career in Arlington, VA as the Chief of the Office for Physical Evaluations for BUMED (Navy Bureau of Medicine and Surgery). He retired from the Navy and lived in Oak Bluffs on Martha's Vineyard Island, where he had spent most of his summers, until moving to join his family in Valdosta. -Survivors include his wife, Ruth "Ricky" Ulrich Blair of Valdosta; five children and their spouses, Janet Ruth and Daniel Atlan of Nancy, France, Bonnie and Jim Peterson of Valdosta, Liz Chapin and Bill Reeves of Valdosta, Donald Ferguson, Jr. and Susan Blair of Warner Robins, Rebecca Susan Blair of Nokomis, Fla.; nine grandchildren and five great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his brother, Malcolm John Blair. -A Celebration of Dr. Blair's life will be held on Saturday, June 18, 2011 from 4:00 until 6:00 P.M. at the home of Bonnie and Jim Peterson at 2215 Riverside Drive, Valdosta, GA 31602. Memorials may be made to the Alzheimer's Association, 1925 Century Blvd., NE., Suite 10, Atlanta, GA 30345-3315. -Condolences to the family may be conveyed online at www.mclanecares.com. -Carson McLane Funeral Home. Donald Blair