William Alan Bland

William Alan Bland, age 82, passed away on Sunday, January 28, 2024 at the McLeod Hospice House. A graveside service will be held in Grove Hill Cemetery at 4:00 on Friday, February 2nd, directed by Belk Funeral Home.

Born in Darlington on July 1, 1941, he was the son of the late William Thomas Bland and the late Mildred Self Bland. He graduated from St. John's High School in 1959 and soon after joined the US Navy with his friends Danny Weaver and Jimmy Bradshaw; the three of them never seeing each other again as a group until 2015. Alan spent the last 20 months of his Navy service in Saigon, supporting the Military Assistance and Advisory Group (MAAG) Vietnam. After his service, he worked forty years as a member of the Sonoco Industrial Products Team, retiring in 2004. He was a member of First Baptist Church.

Surviving is his wife, Nancy McLellan Bland, step-son, Walker (Jessica Robertson) Vivian, three step-grandchildren: Brody, Tessa and Walker "Bubba", many nieces and nephews, including special nieces and nephews, Ashlee Harrell and Kam Harrell.

He was preceded in death by his first wife, Jean McKay Bland, and his brother, Mike Bland.

Memorials may be made to Darlington Humane Society, PO Box 1655 Hartsville, SC 29551