William George Blair, 89, of Arnold passed away on October 31, 2019. He was born to Husted and Susan Blair on April 2, 1930 in White Hall IL. He graduated from Joliet Township High School in Joliet IL, and lived in Lockport, IL until he retired in 1992 to reside in Elk Rapids MI and then Suttons Bay MI before moving to Maryland in 2013. While living in Lockport, he worked at Globe Oil and Refining Company in Lemont, IL from June 1948 to October 1959.  Then worked for Olin Chemical, in the Blocks and Works Chemical Division, as a Controller Lab Technician from October 1959 to March 1972.  William then worked at the Mobil Joliet Refinery as the Plant Supervisor from March 1972 to March 1992.  He also was certified as an EMT/Paramedic for Mobil Joliet Refinery.

He was a member of the Lions club, Lockport Jaycees, a Paul Harris Fellow with the Rotary club and was a very proud member of the Maritime Heritage Alliance. There, he volunteered to restore the Schooner Madeline, which was a 56 ft. twin mastered replica of an 1840's commercial vessel.  He was part of the crew that sailed it to Toronto Canada as part of a Tall Ship celebration.  He was a Brevet 2 ^nd Lieutenant, unassigned, in the Illinois National Guard, for having completed the required military studies at Organized Reserves of the ROTC at Juliet Township High School, from September 1945 to June 1948. William enjoyed playing cards, bowling, and being a part of Habitat for Humanity. He was an avid biker, taking many group bike trips with his wife, Betty Jean, across the US. William was also a member of the Keswick United Methodist Church in Suttons Bay, MI.

He was predeceased by his wife of 61 years, Betty Jean (Warnick) Blair in 2009; and by his parents, Husted and Susan Blair. He is survived by his son, Dennis Keith Blair of Arnold; his daughter-in-law Martha Sue (Hernandez) Blair also of Arnold; his grandchildren, Randall Irwin Noe (Kelly) of Lufkin, TX; Jason Christopher Blair of Flagstaff, AZ; Courtney Elizabeth Shampaine (Adam), of Annapolis; and his great grandchildren, Madelin Alexandria Noe, Jacob Guy Shampaine, Wyatt Blair Shampaine and Coco Marina Shampaine.

A memorial service will be held at a later time.  William will be interred at the Woodlawn Memorial Park & Hills of Rest in Joliet, IL.

Online condolences may be made on www.barrancofuneralhome.com