Roll Call Tribute
William "Bill" Blair Jr. '53 October 9, 2017 1:02 PM updated: January 19, 2018 3:27 PM
(Published in) The (Bryan-College Station) Eagle (on) Oct 8, 2017
Blair, William S.
William S. Blair, 89, of Bryan, passed away Friday, September 29, 2017. No services are planned.
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Obituary {and photo} sent by son.
William Stuart “Bill” Blair, Jr. ‘53
July 17, 1928 – September 29, 2017
William Stuart “Bill” Blair, Jr., 89, of Bryan passed away Friday, September 29, 2017. Entombment in Hayes Grace Memorial Park, Hitchcock, Texas.
Born July 17, 1928 in Cleburne, Texas, he was the son of William Stuart and Iva Elizabeth (Griffith) Blair. An Eagle Scout, Bill graduated from Galveston Ball High School in 1946 and enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps. In 1948 following his discharge he remained in the reserves and enrolled at John Tarleton College in Stephenville, Texas, where he met Barbara Jean Lockhart of Clifton, Texas. They married July 29, 1950. He entered Texas A&M with the Class of 1952, but with the outbreak of the Korean War, Bill was called to active duty. He served in Korea from December 22, 1950 to July 12, 1951. During combat operations Bill was injured and captured by the Chinese on April 24, 1951, where he remained until returning to U.S. military control on May 12. He was honorably discharged on August 12, 1951.
Returning to College Station, Bill completed his B.S. in Agricultural Engineering in 1953. He entered graduate school and finished his M.S., also in Agricultural Engineering, in 1954 under the guidance of Price Hopgood. Bill relocated to Arcadia (now Santa Fe), Texas where he was employed in Texas City. He later worked in the petro-chemical industry in Houston until his retirement.
Bill is preceded in death by his wife, Barbara, of over forty-seven years, his parents and one brother, Carl. He is survived by two brothers, Albert ’52 and Davey, and one sister, Ruby Adams; his six children and their spouses, Iva and John Campbell of Ft. Worth; Barbara ‘78 and Jack Graham of Nolanville, Texas; William Stuart Blair, III ’79 of Santa Fe, Texas; Lee Anne ’82 and Jay Hiller of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; Jacqueline ’83 and John Blair ’83 of Bryan; and Mary and Larry Witkowski of Plano; fourteen grandchildren, including Stacy Marie Blair D’Agostino ’07, and ten great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces, nephews, including G. Charles Marken ’78 and James Marken ’82, and special friend, Marie Prihoda.
Bill’s children ask that any donations be made to the Hospice Brazos Valley, the U.S. Marine Corps League, the Association of Former Students or a charity of their choice.
Blair, William S.
William S. Blair, 89, of Bryan, passed away Friday, September 29, 2017. No services are planned.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Obituary {and photo} sent by son.
William Stuart “Bill” Blair, Jr. ‘53
July 17, 1928 – September 29, 2017
William Stuart “Bill” Blair, Jr., 89, of Bryan passed away Friday, September 29, 2017. Entombment in Hayes Grace Memorial Park, Hitchcock, Texas.
Born July 17, 1928 in Cleburne, Texas, he was the son of William Stuart and Iva Elizabeth (Griffith) Blair. An Eagle Scout, Bill graduated from Galveston Ball High School in 1946 and enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps. In 1948 following his discharge he remained in the reserves and enrolled at John Tarleton College in Stephenville, Texas, where he met Barbara Jean Lockhart of Clifton, Texas. They married July 29, 1950. He entered Texas A&M with the Class of 1952, but with the outbreak of the Korean War, Bill was called to active duty. He served in Korea from December 22, 1950 to July 12, 1951. During combat operations Bill was injured and captured by the Chinese on April 24, 1951, where he remained until returning to U.S. military control on May 12. He was honorably discharged on August 12, 1951.
Returning to College Station, Bill completed his B.S. in Agricultural Engineering in 1953. He entered graduate school and finished his M.S., also in Agricultural Engineering, in 1954 under the guidance of Price Hopgood. Bill relocated to Arcadia (now Santa Fe), Texas where he was employed in Texas City. He later worked in the petro-chemical industry in Houston until his retirement.
Bill is preceded in death by his wife, Barbara, of over forty-seven years, his parents and one brother, Carl. He is survived by two brothers, Albert ’52 and Davey, and one sister, Ruby Adams; his six children and their spouses, Iva and John Campbell of Ft. Worth; Barbara ‘78 and Jack Graham of Nolanville, Texas; William Stuart Blair, III ’79 of Santa Fe, Texas; Lee Anne ’82 and Jay Hiller of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; Jacqueline ’83 and John Blair ’83 of Bryan; and Mary and Larry Witkowski of Plano; fourteen grandchildren, including Stacy Marie Blair D’Agostino ’07, and ten great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces, nephews, including G. Charles Marken ’78 and James Marken ’82, and special friend, Marie Prihoda.
Bill’s children ask that any donations be made to the Hospice Brazos Valley, the U.S. Marine Corps League, the Association of Former Students or a charity of their choice.
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