Bland Jr., James Walter

James Walter Bland Jr., 88, of Blacksburg, Va., passed away Tuesday, June 3, 2008, at Montgomery Regional Hospital of complications from Parkinson’s disease, a fall, and pneumonia.

He was born July 22, 1919, in Blacksburg to the late James W. Bland Sr. and Bertha Camper Bland. He was predeceased by a sister, Clide B. Robertson, and a brother, Robert Leroy Bland. He proudly served his country during World War II in the European Theatre where he was a member of the Fifteenth Air Force.

He loved the Blacksburg community and served in many capacities, including twenty years on the Town Council, and was a founding member of the Blacksburg Rescue Squad and Fire Department. For many years he was a member of Blacksburg Christian Church where he served as chairman of the board, treasurer, and property chairman. In more recent years, he has been a member of Belmont Christian Church. He was an avid hunter and golfer and a charter member of Blacksburg Country Club.

Mr. Bland lived life to the utmost and enjoyed many years of retirement from Bell Atlantic (now Verizon) traveling with his wife and doting on his children, grandchildren and greatgrandchildren.

Survivors include his high school sweetheart and bride of sixty-seven years, Marie Dillon Bland; one son and daughter-in-law, James Dillon and Barbara Bland; one daughter and son-in-law, Donna and Michael Burrows; five grandchildren, Wendy Burgess, Christy Gorman, Michael Bland, Carly Bland and Kevin Bland; and five great-grandchildren; a brother-in-law, Esley Dillon; and a sister-in-law, June Dillon.

The family would like to thank the nurses at Montgomery Regional Hospital not only for their expertise but also for their compassion, interest and sensitivity. They also thank the many people who sent cards, made telephone calls and said prayers during his illness, especially the new friends and neighbors at the Villas at Pepper’s Ferry. Donna and Jim thank the amazing woman whose devotion and tender loving care for their father made his later years the best possible…their mother, Marie Bland.

Contributions in Mr. Bland’s memory may be sent to the Blacksburg Rescue Squad or the Belmont Christian Church Building Fund. Funeral services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Friday, June 6, 2008, in the McCoy Funeral Home Chapel with Mr. Jim Bayne and Mr. Jerry Dowdy officiating, with interment following at Westview Cemetery in Blacksburg.

The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, June 5, 2008, at McCoy Funeral Home, 150 Country Club Dr., Blacksburg, Va.