We just got back from calling hours for Uncle Bob. Uncle Bob was a dear friend of Mer’s family, and he was a huge influence on the entire King clan. He was a long-time friend to Dale, and was responsible for Dale coming to Ohio to teach at Malone College. Uncle Bob loved theater, and his New York and Cleveland tours exposed a young Meredith to the world of the arts. Uncle Bob was also an ordained minister, and he presided over our wedding. Here is his obituary, as printed in the Canton Repository:

Dr. Robert Leland Lair
Robert L. Lair, age 75, went home to be with the Lord on Tuesday, December 4, 2007 at Aultman Hospital. He was born to Francis
and Georgia Morrison Lair in Gloversville, NY, on June 21,1932. He was
one of six children.  He received his
doctorate in English at Ohio State University, and his masters of
English from Middlebury College at the Bread Loaf School of English.
His undergraduate studies were completed at Bob Jones University where
he also received a masters in Bible, was professor of English, and
served as the Dean of Arts and Sciences. He also taught at Ohio State
University before coming to Malone College where he taught until his
retirement in 1994. During these years he was very active not only at
the college but in the community. For many years he served as the chair
of the Language and Literature Department. He started a series which he
wrote and directed entitled “Evenings with” where he acquainted
students with the lives of various authors. While at Malone he received
the honor of the yearbook dedication and was also recognized as
Professor of the Year when he retired. His acting and public speaking
skills landed him leading roles in Malone College Shakespearean
productions of Richard II and King Lear, and he could be frequently
seen at area churches performing one of his religious monologs. An avid
writer, his books on T.S. Eliot and Emily Dickinson were published by
Barron’s Educational Series, and he was a regular contributor to the
Barron’s Profiles of American Colleges and Universities. Robert was
pronouncer several years for the Repository Spelling Bee. He was quite
an accomplished pianist and accompanist and wrote many musical
compositions as well. He could be heard in the community where he
served as interim pastor of three different churches: Sixteen St.
John’s Church of North Lawrence, Market Heights United Church of Christ
of Canton, and St. Jacob’s Community Church of Cairo, Ohio. A lover of
the arts, Bob led NYC Theater tours for 30 years, Cleveland Playhouse
tours, the Spoleto Festivals, Europe and Stratford Festival Tours as
well. There were many faithful participants in these tours who attended
just to experience the warm personality and fun of just being with
Robert Lair. He will always be remembered as a wonderful husband,
father, teacher, pastor, tour director, actor, pianist, friend, and
always the life of the party. He will be greatly missed. He enjoyed his
retirement and spent much of it in travel, antiquing, reading, and
writing, having written hundreds of prayers which he shared with
friends. Most of all, he loved his family dearly and was so proud of
their accomplishments. Contributions may
be made to Malone College, to establish a scholarship fund in the Department of
Language and Literature in memory of Dr. Lair.

Rest in peace, Uncle Bob. Welcome home.