David Fairchild Blaydes, age 84, formerly of Bellaire Drive, Morgantown, died on 22 December 2018, at the Arthur B. Hodges Center at Edgewood Summit, in Charleston. He was born in Columbus, Ohio, 17 August 1934, the son of the late Glenn William Blaydes and Bernice Winstel Blaydes. After earning his B.S. at the Ohio State University, his M.S. from the University of Wisconsin, and his Ph.D. from Indiana University where he met his wife, Dr. Blaydes held a postdoctoral position for three years at Michigan State University and joined WVU's Department of Biology, from which he retired after 31 years. After his retirement, Dr. Blaydes enjoyed the Literary Discussion Group and Appalachian Lifelong Learners. His wife, Dr. Sophia B. Blaydes, preceded him in death on 2 July 2014. He is survived by his daughter, Stephanie Blaydes Kaisler, and her husband, Joseph Kaisler; by his son, Jeffrey Glenn Blaydes, and his wife, Mary Sadd Blaydes, and his grandchildren, Madeleine Glenn, Thomas Shaker, and Luke Fairchild Blaydes. The family wishes to extend its thanks to caregivers Brandy Bailey and Julie Schaul, as well as Millie Blake and the staff at the Arthur B. Hodges Center. The family will receive friends from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm on Saturday, December 29th, at Dering-Henson Funeral Home, 156 Foundry Street, Morgantown, WV 26505. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that donations may be sent in Dr. Blaydes' memory to a charity of choice or to the David Fairchild Blaydes Biology Doctoral Dissertation Fellowship, West Virginia University Foundation, 1 Waterfront Place, P.O. Box 1650, Morgantown, West Virginia, 26507-1650.
David passed on December 22, 2018 Visitation will be SaturdayDecember 29, 2018 from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm Services will be held on December 29, 2018
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