John Rodney Blair

Born on August 12, 1942, and raised in Columbia, Tennessee, he was the son of the late J. Mike Blair and Ruth Fraser Blair. He attended Middle Tennessee State University and earned his medical degree from the University of Tennessee College of Medicine in 1966. Dr. Blair served in the US Air Force from 1968 to 1970 as a Medical Officer in the Civic Action Program near Saigon, Vietnam, where he was awarded several medals for his service.

Following his military service, he returned to Memphis, Tennessee, completing his internship and residency in Internal Medicine at Baptist Memorial Hospital and later at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. In 1973 Dr. Blair joined The Memphis Clinic of Internal Medicine, where he spent more than two decades in private practice. In 1995 he relocated to Palm Beach, Florida, where he practiced medicine at the VA Medical Center and later worked in travel medicine assignments until his retirement.

Dr. Blair is survived by his wife of 31 years, Sandra Shaw Blair of Palm Beach, Florida; his daughter Jenna Blair Smith and her husband Jarrett and their children Elijah and Ella Ruth, all of Olive Branch, Mississippi; his daughter Melanie Blair Dodd and her husband James and their children Corbin and Seraphina, all of Monticello, Indiana. He is also survived by his sister Pat Johnston of Nashville, Tennessee; his sister-in-law Rocky Blair of Germantown, Tennessee; and many nieces and nephews. He also leaves behind his beloved cat, Marmalade #5.

Dr. Blair was preceded in death by his parents; his brothers Neal Blair and Allen Blair; his brother-in-law Dr. Bill Johnston; and his sister-in-law Mary Lee Blair.

A man of wide-ranging interests, Dr. Blair enjoyed antiques, classic cars, motorcycles, coin collecting, attending church, watching the ocean, and his cats. He was actively involved and served in various capacities with the Mustangs of Memphis, Palm Beach County Medical Society, the American Numismatic Association, the Palm Beach Coin Club and The Lighthouse Class at Family Church Downtown.

Funeral services will be held Thursday, January 29, 2026 at 11:00 AM from the Quattlebaum Funeral, Cremation and Event Center, 6411 Parker Avenue, West Palm Beach, FL 33405. Friends may call on Thursday, January 29, 2026 from 9:00 to 11:00 AM. Interment with Military Honors will take place at the South Florida National Cemetery at 12:30 PM.