Obituary for Blair Howard McKim
Blair Howard McKim, 85, of Shippensburg, Pennsylvania, passed away peacefully on Sunday, January 9, 2022, with his loving wife at his side.
Blair was born on March 23, 1936, in Three Springs, Pennsylvania, the second of seven children to Paul Leroy and Irene (Heclo) McKim. Blair lived with his grandmother, a godly woman who had a strong influence on Blair, until the age of thirteen in the house across from the family farm. Blair worked on the farm until the age of nineteen when he left to study accounting at Shippensburg University. While attending Shippensburg, Blair was called into the ministry. He graduated from Eastern Nazarene College and then from Nazarene Seminary. After seminary Blair pastored three different churches over twenty-six years, followed by doing estate planning.
While attending Eastern Nazarene College, Blair met and married Vera (Bock) McKim. Vera passed in 2008 after fifty-one years of marriage. They had no children.
In 2010 Blair proposed to Donna (Mace) Grill on a hot air balloon flight. Donna accepted and they were married that November. That began eleven years of a happy marriage to Donna. With his marriage to Donna, Blair became a stepfather to Donna’s five children, grandfather to her eleven grandchildren, and later a great grandfather of four. He enjoined his extended family and was lovingly known as Pappy to his grandchildren and great grandchildren.
Blair was a lifelong pastor, even after retiring from full-time ministry. Blair taught Bible lessons in his home and hosted get-togethers for senior church members from the Shippensburg Church of the Nazarene, which Blair attended after moving to Shippensburg to retire. Blair also taught Bible lessons and Tai Chi at the Southampton Township Senior Center.
Blair was a wonderful husband, helpmate, and companion to his wife Donna and was the love of her life. Blair was well known for his broad smile and unfailing cheerfulness. His kind, gentle, generous spirit and love for the Lord will not be forgotten.
In addition to his wife, Blair is survived by three brothers; Glenn and his wife Eleanor, Paul and his wife Gail, and Don and his wife Erneta; a sister, Ella DiGuglielmo and her husband Angelo; five stepchildren; eleven step grandchildren; and four step great grandchildren.
Blair was preceded in death by his brother, Ernie; sister, Audrey; and first wife Vera (Bock) McKim.
His viewing will be held from 11:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m., on Saturday, January 15, 2022, at the Shippensburg Church of the Nazarene at 429 E. Orange St., Shippensburg, followed by the funeral service at 1:00 p.m., officiated by Rev. Dale A. Detweiler. The interment service, for family only, will follow in the Spring Hill Cemetery. A celebration of the memory of Blair’s life will be held at a later date at the convenience of the family.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Shippensburg Church of the Nazarene, c/o: The New Building Fund.
Blair was born on March 23, 1936, in Three Springs, Pennsylvania, the second of seven children to Paul Leroy and Irene (Heclo) McKim. Blair lived with his grandmother, a godly woman who had a strong influence on Blair, until the age of thirteen in the house across from the family farm. Blair worked on the farm until the age of nineteen when he left to study accounting at Shippensburg University. While attending Shippensburg, Blair was called into the ministry. He graduated from Eastern Nazarene College and then from Nazarene Seminary. After seminary Blair pastored three different churches over twenty-six years, followed by doing estate planning.
While attending Eastern Nazarene College, Blair met and married Vera (Bock) McKim. Vera passed in 2008 after fifty-one years of marriage. They had no children.
In 2010 Blair proposed to Donna (Mace) Grill on a hot air balloon flight. Donna accepted and they were married that November. That began eleven years of a happy marriage to Donna. With his marriage to Donna, Blair became a stepfather to Donna’s five children, grandfather to her eleven grandchildren, and later a great grandfather of four. He enjoined his extended family and was lovingly known as Pappy to his grandchildren and great grandchildren.
Blair was a lifelong pastor, even after retiring from full-time ministry. Blair taught Bible lessons in his home and hosted get-togethers for senior church members from the Shippensburg Church of the Nazarene, which Blair attended after moving to Shippensburg to retire. Blair also taught Bible lessons and Tai Chi at the Southampton Township Senior Center.
Blair was a wonderful husband, helpmate, and companion to his wife Donna and was the love of her life. Blair was well known for his broad smile and unfailing cheerfulness. His kind, gentle, generous spirit and love for the Lord will not be forgotten.
In addition to his wife, Blair is survived by three brothers; Glenn and his wife Eleanor, Paul and his wife Gail, and Don and his wife Erneta; a sister, Ella DiGuglielmo and her husband Angelo; five stepchildren; eleven step grandchildren; and four step great grandchildren.
Blair was preceded in death by his brother, Ernie; sister, Audrey; and first wife Vera (Bock) McKim.
His viewing will be held from 11:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m., on Saturday, January 15, 2022, at the Shippensburg Church of the Nazarene at 429 E. Orange St., Shippensburg, followed by the funeral service at 1:00 p.m., officiated by Rev. Dale A. Detweiler. The interment service, for family only, will follow in the Spring Hill Cemetery. A celebration of the memory of Blair’s life will be held at a later date at the convenience of the family.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Shippensburg Church of the Nazarene, c/o: The New Building Fund.