Obituary: J.L. Bland, 83, Bardstown

J.L. BLAND

J.L. Bland, 83, of Bardstown, died Monday, Sept. 14, 2015, at Baptist Health Hospital in Louisville. He was born Oct. 22, 1931, in Marion County. He retired from General Electric and he was a U.S. Army veteran of Korean War. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus, and St. Joseph Catholic Church, where he was a Eucharistic Minister and funeral server for 22 years. He was also involved in the church mission to Haiti, and co-founders of a Catholic Church in Port-au-Prince, Haiti.

He was preceded in death by his first wife, Shirley Mae Abell Bland; his parents, James Lester Bland Sr. and Mary Josephine Bland; one sister, Frances Spaulding; and one stepbrother, Freddie Bland; and one grandson, Joseph Raymond Young.

He is survived by his wife, Jo Ann Bland of Bardstown; one daughter, Sharon Bland (Jimmy) Joseph of Montgomery, Texas; five sons, James B. Bland of Louisville and Kevin Abell (Teresa) Bland, both of Louisville, Henry Len (Crystal) Bland of Smithville, and Patrick F. (Grace) Young and Brian R. (Lisa) Young, both of Bardstown; five sisters, Adeline Fowler and Mary Virginia Cecil, both of Louisville, Leona Wheatley and Teresa Russell, both of Lebanon, and Linda Ford of Calvary; seven grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.

The Funeral Mass is 10 a.m. Friday, Sept. 18, 2015, at the Basilica of St. Joseph Proto-Cathedral with burial in Resthaven Memorial Park in Louisville.

Visitation will be 3-8 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 17, 2015, and 8-9:15 a.m. Friday at Barlow Funeral Home.

Memorial contributions may go to American Cancer Society or Mission to Haiti, c/o St. Joseph Catholic Church.

The Barlow Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

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