Larry R. Bland
Larry R. Bland, 68, of Holbrook, Jackson Township, died at 5:45 p.m. Wednesday, December 10, 2014, in Reynolds Memorial Hospital in Glen Dale, West Virginia.
He was born June 8, 1946, in New Martinsville, West Virginia, a son of the late Richard “John” Elwood and Edna Mae Burton Bland. He resided in Richhill Township, Sugar Grove, for several years, prior to moving to Jackson Township in 1997.
Mr. Bland was a 1965 graduate of West Greene High School and a former member of Wind Ridge Sportsman’s Club and Mounds City Sportsman’s Club. He was a veteran of the Vietnam War, where he served with the U.S. Army as an E-5 with Company C, 555 Engineer Battalion. He was awarded the National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal, Vietnam Service Medal and M-16 rifle expert badge.
Mr. Bland was an avid hunter. He enjoyed fishing and raising and showing English coonhounds. He raised poultry and sold eggs and also was an auto mechanic. The love of his life was his family and grandchildren and his pet Jack Russell Terriers, Taz and Tina. He was an avid fan of the Pittsburgh Steelers and West Virginia Mountaineers.
He was formerly employed by Powhatan 4 coal mine, was a surveyor with Erie Construction and, in 2007, retired from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Resources (Ryerson Station State Park) as a maintenance engineer with 17 years of service.
On November 22, 1969, he married Marsha Jean Kafton, who survives.
Also surviving are two daughters, Deedra, wife of Dr. Troy Balgo of St. Clairsville, Ohio, and Denise Bland-Piontek, wife of Joseph Piontek of Boston, Massachusetts; six grandchildren, Victoria, Sydney, Brock, Cade and Kira Balgo, and Lyrra Marie Piontek; a stepsister, Patricia, wife of Henry White of Masontown, West Virginia and several nieces and nephews.
Deceased, in addition to his parents, are two sisters, Linda M. Smith and Erma Pfender; stepmother Mary Tilton Tedrow Bland; and stepbrother Glenn F. Tedrow.
Friends will be received from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., the time of service, Saturday, December 13, in Rush Funeral Home Inc., Rogersville, with Pastor Ben Williamson officiating. Interment will follow in Bethany Cemetery, Jackson Township. Graveside military rites will be accorded by representatives of the U.S. Army and the Waynesburg American Legion Post 330.
Family and friends may view the obituary; send condolences and flowers at www.rushfuneralhomeinc.com.