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About Nolan J Bland:

Services for Nolan J. Bland, 88, of Rockdale were held Wednesday, Oct. 15, 2008, at Phillips & Luckey Funeral Home in Rockdale with Rev. Doug Springer of Rockdale Full Gospel Church officiating. Burial was in I.O.O.F. Cemetery.
Mr. Bland died Sunday, Oct. 12, at Scott & White Hospital in Temple.
A lifelong Rockdale resident, he was born Sept. 15, 1920, in Rockdale to Les Alfred and Dewey Inez (Blackmon) Bland.
He married Leona Louise Gest on March 7, 1942, in Rockdale.
Mr. Bland was a product tester in Alcoa?s Rockdale Operations Atomizer.
He was a member of First Christian Church in Rockdale and enjoyed woodworking.
Mr. Bland was a World War II veteran, serving in the U.S. Army 636th Tank Destroyer Battalion.
He was preceded in death by four brothers, Homer D., Leon, Harry and R.V. Bland; and four sisters, Blanche Bland, Annie May Bland and infant twin sisters.
Survivors are his wife, Leona Bland of Rockdale; two sons, Nolan J. Bland Jr. and wife Carrie of Brazoria, James S. Bland and wife Toni of Bryan; a brother, S.C. Bland and wife Vermel of Rockdale; a sister, Alice Faye Farris and husband Richard of Tyler; a brother-in-law, Walter Gest and wife Delores of Rockdale; and four sisters-in-law, Katie Jackson and husband Robert, Beth Gest

About Leona Gest:

Leona "Gest" Bland June 24, 1919 - October 20, 2009

Leona Bland, 90, of Rockdale, passed away on Tuesday, October 20, 2009, in the Renaissance Villa in Rockdale. Funeral services are set for 2 p.m. Friday, October 23, 2009, at Phillips & Luckey Funeral Home in Rockdale. Burial will follow in the I.O.O.F. Cemetery in Rockdale with the Rev. Margaret Clemmings officiating.

She was born June 24, 1919, in Milam County, Texas, to Fritz W. and Leona Selma Fleissig Gest. She married Nolan J. Bland on March 7, 1942, in Rockdale. Leona was a homemaker and she loved flowers and to spend her time gardening. She was a longtime member of First Christian Church of Rockdale.

Leona was preceded in death by her husband on October 12, 2008; her parents; and sister, Ruby Eiland and brothers, Alfred and Antone Gest.

Survivors include her sons, Nolan J. Bland, Jr. and wife, Carrie, of Brazoria, James S. Bland and wife, Katrina, of Knoxville, Tenn.; brother, Walter Gest and wife, Delores, of Rockdale; sisters, Hilda McVoy, of Rockdale, Katie Jackson and husband, Robert, of Rockdale and Thelma Scruggs and husband, Bobby, of Hare; sister-in-law, Beth Gest, of Rockdale; eight grandchildren, 14 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren.
Pallbearers will be, Terry Jackson, Bill Bland, Shannon Strickland, Randy Thomas, Cory Thomas and Mike Jackson.