Rev. Dwight William Bland was born on May 1, 1939 in Santa Ana, CA. At age 82, he left this world peacefully on August 19, 2021, surrounded by his family, in his home in Boonville, IN after a long illness. He was a beloved husband for 60 yrs to Brenda (Avery) Bland, proud father to his two children, Roxanna Trivitt (Gary) and Todd Bland (Candi), and loved his five (5) grandchildren - Chelsey, Hannah, Nathan, Connor, and Jarred and six (6) great grandchildren - Olivia, Savannah, Rylee, Luke, Andi and Landon. He is survived by these and other loving family members and a host of cherished friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Dr. Thurman and Mrs. Winniford (Wilkerson) Bland and two sisters, Doris Williams and Emma Lou Adams.
He grew up in Dexter, MO where he developed a love, skill, and passion for basketball. He was captain of his high school team leading them to the state tournament in 1957. In May, 1962, Dwight was drafted into the army as part of the peacetime draft during the Vietnam War and served active duty for 2 years.
At age 12, he became ill and experienced a miracle of physical healing. This experience later awakened him to his life's call to full-time Christian ministry and a career with the General Baptist Denomination. Above all else, he loved God, God's Word, God's church and community. A man with a quest for knowledge, of leadership, creativity, community involvement, compassion, prayer, spiritual discernment, laughter, encouragement and a love for writing all lead to his incredible work ethic. For 20 years, he gave his life's work to pastoring Main Street Baptist Church and to serving in various denominational leadership roles. In his retirement years, he continued his ministry of preaching, and shepherding churches as an interim leader. He had a soft heart for the underprivileged and forgotten and wanted more than anything to see everyone come to know his Jesus, whom he called the lover of his soul.
Over his lifetime he was a leader by example, a mentor, a loving, supportive husband and father, and inspiring grandfather. He was all smiles while sitting around the table eating and telling jokes. He loved sports, music, food, and enjoyed singing and cooking his specialties for family. He treasured his time spent with the Boonville community serving as chaplain, crusade leader, confidant and a member of the "round table club" that met to solve the world's problems early morning and noon at local restaurants.
He leaves behind a spiritual legacy, was dearly loved and will be greatly missed.
Visitation will be held at Koehler Funeral Home in Boonville, Indiana on Monday, August 23,2021 from 4-6 pm. Funeral services at Main Street Baptist, Tuesday, August 24th, 2021 at 10 am with visitation beginning at 9 am prior to service. Burial will follow at Maple Grove Cemetery in Boonville.
The family requests that expressions of sympathy donations be made to Main Street Baptist Church, Oakland City University or Kindred Hospice of Evansville would be appreciated.
