Earlene J. Bland | ||
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| Earlene June Bland, the daughter of Mary (Battistone) Whicker and Otha Earl Whicker, was born June 19, 1929 near Centerville, Iowa. In addition to Centerville, the family also lived near the Iowa towns of Rathbun and Moravia. From childhood through her teen years, Earlene worked alongside her father in the coal mines. She graduated from Moravia High School in 1946 and continued mining.
Earlene and Herbert Lee Bland, Sr. were married at Chariton, Iowa on April 17, 1947. During their nearly 52 years of marriage, they were blessed with eleven children, Marylin, Herbert Jr., Ross, David, Hope, Charles, Michael, Carole, Tammy, Timothy, and Anthony. Earlene and Herb made their first home in Leavenworth, Kansas where Herb was stationed with the United States Army and was working as a military prison guard. Following his discharge from the service, they farmed two years in Missouri, and in 1952 moved to Centerville, Iowa. Herb began his career as a truck driver and Earlene enjoyed being a mother and homemaker. The family later moved to Osceola, Iowa, and in 1979, she and Herb and their three youngest children moved to Malvern, Iowa. Earlene eventually began working at the Malvern Senior Citizen Meal Site and later at Hill Side Manor in Glenwood, Iowa. Surrounded by her loving family, Earlene passed away at her Malvern home on Saturday, May 10, 2008, at the age of 78 years, 10 months, and 21 days. She was preceded in death by her parents; infant children, David and Hope; husband Herb in 1999; granddaughter Becky Major; brother Bud Whicker; sister Lois; and son-in-law John Pettis. Earlene is survived by her children; Marylin Pettis of Moulton, IA, Herb Bland, Jr. and wife Linda of Camdenton, MO, Ross Bland and wife Cyndi and Charles Bland and wife Donna, all of Woodburn, IA,, Michael Bland and wife Suzie of Bald Knob, Arkansas, Carole Heilman and husband Mark of Osceola, IA, Tammy Biggerstaff and husband Brian of Emerson, IA, Tim Bland and Anthony Bland, both of Malvern; 19 grandchildren and 24 great grandchildren; other relatives and friends. Interment in the Malvern Cemetery. | ||