The former office building of the late dentist Dr. Raymond B. Blaine has been donated by his children to Butler Health System. Blaine built the building in the early 1960s and rented part of it for many years to a pediatrician.

A building many county residents remember from visiting a friendly dentist or pediatrician has been donated to Butler Health System.

The four children of the late dentist Dr. Raymond B. Blaine have donated the small brick building on the northeast corner of North McKean and East Brady streets to the health system that took such good care of their mother and father before they died in 2007 and November 2018, respectively.

Blaine built the building in the early 1960s and rented part of it for many years to a pediatrician, Dr. Fox.

Blaine practiced in Butler from 1947 until 2016, with a brief hiatus from 1949 to 1952, when he answered the call to serve in the U.S. Navy.

“Our dad loved practicing dentistry,” said his son, Bill Blaine. “He always made himself available to his patients, and he genuinely enjoyed getting up and going to work every day.”

Ken DeFurio, BHS president and CEO, said the health system is honored and grateful for the donation.

“We can keep Dr. Blaine's commitment to his patients — and to the community — alive through this facility,” DeFurio said. “BHS continues to grow, and this location near the hospital will be put to good use.”

Raymond and Jane Blaine's four children are Bill (Carol) of Chicago; Wes (Felicia) of Fairfax, Va.; Mary (Denny Lemmo) Blaine of Zelienople; and Christine (Jim Medved) Blaine of Washington, Pa.

Christine Blaine said it will be hard to pass the building and know it no longer is a part of the family once the health system takes charge of it.

“It's very difficult to do this because really and truly, we're closing a chapter in our lives,” she said.

Blaine said she and one other sibling were delivered at Butler Memorial Hospital, and the doctors, nurses and staff took excellent care of her parents in their twilight years.

“I can't think of a better recipient for something like this,” Blaine said.

Still, she will think of her dedicated father each time she passes the single-story brick structure on East Brady.

“He continued to work until he couldn't go there anymore,” Blaine said. “That's what kept him going.”

Butler Health System officials have not announced the planned use for the building.