John Warren Blair Sr., 78, of Idyllwild, died of emphysema on Friday, Jan. 28, 2000, at Vencor Hospital in Ontario.

Mr. Blair was born February 13, 1921, in Dallas, Texas. He served in the U.S. Army from 1942 to 1945.

He taught at Chaffey College in Rancho Cucamonga for 35 years - including English for 26 years - before retiring to Idyllwild with his wife, Elizabeth, in 1982. He considered the forest and mountains his home. Mr. Blair loved oriental art, film and literature.

Memorial services will be private and are being handled by Miller-Jones Mortuary and Crematory in Hemet.

Besides his wife of 53 years, Mr. Blair is survived by two sons, John Blair Jr. of Corona Del Mar and Richard Blair of Burbank; a daughter, Christina Sundstrom of Visalia; and a granddaughter, J. Blair Vedenoff of Visalia. The family requests that memorial contributions to his memory be made to the Chaffey College Scholarship Fund, 5885 Haven Ave., Rancho Cucamonga, CA 91737.