Whitman – James J. Blaine, Sr., of Whitman, died peacefully, Thursday, October 29, 2015, two days shy of his eighty-ninth birthday after a short illness.
Born, raised and educated in Brockton, MA he was the son of the late James A. and Bridget (Moore) Blaine.
He was predeceased in 1997 by his beloved wife of fifty years, Helen (Dadmun) Blaine.
Jim was a proud member of the “Greatest Generation” serving in the US Navy as MM 3/c for the 19th Battalion Seabees in Okinawa. He flew the flag every day and was extremely proud and honored to have carried the colors in the Parade of Flags at Arlington National Cemetery during the Veteran’s Day Ceremony in 2002.
Jim was a Teamster for forty-five years, starting his career at age sixteen working for Shoe City Express. In 1950, he joined Quinn Freight Lines as a local driver and then became a line haul driver from 1957-1980, logging over two million, two hundred thousand miles, finishing his truck driving career with Maislin Transport of Canada, which bought out Quinn Freight. From 1983-1988, Jim worked for Bechtel Construction Co. at the Nuclear Power Plant in Plymouth, retiring as a union teamster.
Jim was a life member of the Whitman VFW, Whitman American Legion, K of C, and the NSVA. He was a Past Commander of Island X-4, serving a term as national trustee of the NSVA.
He is survived by his four children and their spouses: Kathleen and Edward Condon of Whitman, Maureen and Paul Hill of East Bridgewater, James Jr and Joyce Blaine of SC and Barbara and James Silva of NC, his sister, Eleanor Blaine and several nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his sister Barbara and her husband Harold Lindquist. Jim was the proud “Papa” of eleven grandchildren and “Great Papa” to twenty-seven great grandchildren.
His services will be held Wednesday November 4 at 8:15 AM from the Blanchard Funeral Chapel, Plymouth Street (Rte. 58 @ the rotary) Whitman, followed by a funeral Mass at 9:00 AM in the Holy Ghost Church, Whitman. Burial will be at a later date in the St. James Cemetery, Whitman. Visiting hours will be held Tuesday November 3 from 3:00-6:00 PM.
In lieu of flowers, donations in his name would be greatly appreciated, to Old Colony Hospice, One Credit Union Way, Randolph, MA 02368.