Blair Emerson English, age 60, passed away on May 28, 2026 at University Hospital in San Antonio, Texas with his wife, Roxanne Denise English at his side, after a severe acute illness. Born on February 17,1966 in Buffalo New York, Blair lived a life defined by compassion, strength, and generosity. He was a loving husband, a devoted father and step-father, cherished brother, doting uncle, nurturing gr-uncle (grand uncle) and faithful friend.

A proud U.S. Marine veteran, Blair served his country with honor and distinction. His time in the Marines exemplified his unwavering courage and commitment to service - qualities that he carried into every aspect of his life. Those who had the privilege of knowing him were deeply touched by his wisdom, humor, and steadfast devotion to family, loved ones, and friends. Blair’s legacy is one of kindness and selflessness. He had an extraordinary ability to connect with people and leave a lasting impression on their lives. His generosity of spirit and dedication to those he cared for will be remembered fondly by all who knew and loved him.

Blair is preceded in death by his parents, Jack Percy English and Sarah Cisneros English and his brother Guy (Cheryl) English. Blair leaves behind to treasure his memory, his childhood sweetheart and loving wife, Roxanne (Rodriguez) English, his son Michael English, his stepson, Zachary Underbrink, his brothers, Roderick (Johanna), Lonnie (Dorothy), Lance, Scott, his sisters, Jacqueline (Greg) English and Leslie (Brad) Groll and numerous nephews, nieces, cousins, grand nieces, grand nephews, and many friends.

Blair and Roxanne met in San Antonio, Texas when they were 10 and 12 years old. They had an instant attraction to each other and were pen pals for years. He enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corp on August 12, 1985. They lost touch with each other over time, but she was asked to write to him when he enlisted to boost his morale. The letters started flying back and forth and before long, they were engaged... it only took three engagements and 33 years to finally get married!

After his honorable discharge, he worked various jobs until he found his calling as a long-haul truck driver which allowed him to see his family that was scattered from coast to coast. On June 4, 2009, he received an award for an Exemplary Safe Driving Achievement for ONE MILLION MILES- “Forty Trips Around the World” and became a member of the MILLION-MILE CLUB during his tenure with Arrow Trucking.

His passion for life, laughter, family, and friends was larger than life. He loved spending quality time with family and friends. He had a passion for cooking and barbequing. He loved sailboats, dogs, all kinds of music, golfing, watching ALL the cooking shows, collecting cookbooks, binge watching series, old classic black and white movies, building models, reading books and taking long walks on the piers to dream about owning his own sailboat one day. He loved Dean Martin and the rat pack! He was an avid Buffalo Bills fan! He loved with his whole heart and soul. He was a true gentleman to his core.

He continued his driving career until his diagnosis of Ideopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF) quickly progressed and made it clear he could no longer continue in the job he enjoyed. It was then that his research led him to University Hospital in San Antonio seeking a lung transplant. After a lengthy screening process, he was officially placed on the list. Miraculously, he received the call a few days later and had a bilateral lung transplant on November 12, 2023! He was then diagnosed with cancer in his lymph nodes. He continued to fight for his life. He was in remission for a few months when it returned. His courage, fighting spirit and sheer will to live carried him through the next few months. Never losing his faith, smiling through the pain, enduring numerous procedures, immunotherapy was paused while he fought illnesses that attacked his donated lungs. He fought until the end with every fiber of his being until our Lord Jesus Christ called him to his heavenly eternal home to rest.

The family wishes to express our sincerest gratitude to his pulmonologist Dr. David Marks, the entire staff of University Health and University Hospital, the Lung Transplant Unit and the MD Anderson Mays Cancer Center in San Antonio, Texas.

Visitation will begin at 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 pm on Monday, June 15, 2026 at Guardian Funeral Home at 5922 Crosstown; Corpus Christi, Texas. Funeral Service will be held at 11:00 a.m. at Guardian funeral home chapel on Tuesday, June 16, 2026. Interment will follow with full military honors at 1:00 p.m. at the Coastal Bend State Veterans Cemetery; 9974 I.H.37 North Access Road, Corpus Christi, Texas.