Photo courtesy of Andrews Funeral Home - Gloucester
Gloucester, Virginia
May 2, 1935 – Mar 10, 2023
Samuel Russell Bland died in Gloucester, Virginia, on March 10th 2023 at the age of 87. He was born in Lehman, Pennsylvania, on May 2, 1935 to Harvey and Eunice (Major) Bland. Sam grew up in Newport News, Virginia, graduating from Warwick High School in 1953. He earned a bachelor’s and doctorate degrees in mathematics and a master’s degree in physics.
While at Warwick High School, Sam met Margaret (Anne) Patten. They married in 1957 and before Anne passed away in November of 2021, they celebrated their 64th wedding anniversary. Sam and Anne settled in Yorktown, Virginia, living there from 1961 to 1993. Sam worked as an engineer for NASA in Hampton, Virginia, while Anne worked as a special education and elementary school teacher. Upon retiring they moved to Sandie Knowe Farm in Gloucester.
Sam had a passion for opera, cooking and bird watching. Pursuing his interest of opera he traveled with Anne to Chicago, Seattle, and London to see Wagner’s Ring Cycle. For 25 years, Sam participated in the Great Backyard Bird Count, taking a census of the bird species spotted at Sandie Knowe.
Sam is survived by his daughter Elisabeth, his son Charles, and his son Joel (Kathleen), four grandchildren, two great-grandchildren and his brother, Buddy.
A celebration of Sammy will take place at a later date. In lieu of flowers, a donation in Samuel’s name may be made to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Andrews Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
I would like to send my condolences to the family. Mr. Bland was a very humble man and I never saw him anger. I am very honored to have been a caregiver for him.
Ivory Smith
March 31, 2023 | Port Haywood, VA
Sam and I were classmates at Randolph-Macon College. Later we were colleagues working at NASA Langley Research Center. Sam was an intelligent, kind, and gentle man who made the world a better place to live.
ROBERT DOGGETT
March 13, 2023 | HAMPTON | Friend
Sam and Anne were our dear friends for 44 years. We love them. They were part of our group reunion (part of the Cursillo De Colores) with Mike and Lorraine Stefanko. We met every other week alternating house until the pandemic ended those meetings, but we never stop caring for each other. Sam, enjoy the Eternal Life with Anne!
YSAAC CHABO
March 12, 2023 | Friend
Dear Family, (Lisa, Charles, Joel) You are in my prayers and thoughts. May God give you peace in your time of loss. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Together again for eternity! Lisa I saw you reply to one of my post & knew your Dad *my cousin, was gone. Heavens gained our loss. I know life can be hard at times. You have done a great work caring for all your family. I love you. Matthew 5:4 God bless each of you. Grace, Peace, Love and Prayer, Janet
Janet Lynn Lockstampfor
March 12, 2023 | Family
