Bland

S.C. (Sam, Paw Paw) Bland, 86, of Rockdale died April 13, 2018, at Renaissance Villa Nursing Home & Rehab Center in Rock-dale.

A memorial service was held Tuesday, April 17, at Phillips & Luckey Funeral Home in Rockdale.

Mr. Bland was born on March 30, 1932, in Rockdale to Leslie and Dewey (Blackmon) Bland.

He was a 1950 graduate of Rockdale High School.

On Dec. 1, 1956, he married Vermel Gates in Hearne. While residing there, they owned and operated a skating rink.

They moved back to Rockdale in 1959 where Mr. Bland worked as a brick mason.

In 1963, he moved the family outside of Rockdale on some acreage.

Mr. Bland had a passion for gardening and he grew greenhouse and field tomatoes for many years. He also enjoyed growing watermelons, playing dominoes with his buddies, his morning and afternoon coffee at the local McDonald’s, and entertaining his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

His hobbies included hunting petrified rock, arrowheads, fishing, hunting, playing computer card games and going to casinos to play slot machines.

Mr. Bland was preceded in death by his parents; five brothers, Homer D, Leon, Harry, R.V. and Nolan; and four sisters, Blanche, Annie Mae and infant twin sisters.

Survivors include his wife, Vermel Bland of Rockdale; two sons, Charles Bland and wife Gaye, and John Bland, all of Rockdale; a sister, Alice Faye Farris of Tyler; his grandsons, Nathan Bland, Clayton Bland and wife Christy of Rockdale, Andrew Bland and Sarah of Austin; his granddaughters, Caryn Bland Rippstein and husband Clay of The Woodlands, Larissa Bland Schobinger and husband Sean of Hutto; and his great-grandchildren, Karsyn, Kadynce, Ryan, Casslyn, Rylee, Cagen, Kynleigh, Darren, Jase and Hayden.

Memorials may be made to St. John’s United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 168, Rockdale, TX 76567 or the charity of your choice.