Virginia McNabb Bland

Virginia McNabb Bland, 94, died May 1, 2018, at her home in Walnut Ridge. Born June 20, 1923, at Brockett in Randolph County, she was the daughter of Herman and Nell Lehman McNabb. Virginia grew up in Pocahontas and was a 1941 graduate of Pocahontas High School. She was a freshman at Hendrix College when the bombing occurred at Pearl Harbor. As many others of her age, she left college to become involved in the U.S. effort during World War II. She took a clerical job at the Walnut Ridge Army Flying School and would later transfer to bases in Florida, living in the Coral Gables and Fort Myers areas. After the war, she returned to college for a brief time at the University of Arkansas, where she pledged Pi Beta Phi. On June 14, 1949, she married James (Jim) Lloyd Bland Jr. of Walnut Ridge. She then taught school in Pocahontas and later Walnut Ridge for just a few years. In later years, she worked part-time at The Times Dispatch, of which she was an owner. She faithfully gathered local news for the Walnut Ridge section of People & Events for several decades until her death. She was devoted to her family, friends and church, First United Methodist of Walnut Ridge, where she was a longtime member. Preceding her in death was her husband, Jim; a son, James Lloyd Bland III; brothers, Clifford McNabb and Gardner McNabb; and a sister, Mary Nell Spikes King. Survivors include a daughter, Elizabeth Lehman Bland, and husband, Paul Derrig Girolamo, of Brooklyn, N.Y.; a son, John Aaron Bland, and wife, Renee Rainwater Bland, of Walnut Ridge; and three grandchildren, James Paul Girolamo, John Cullen Girolamo and Anna Elizabeth Bland, as well as 18 nieces and nephews. A memorial service will be held Saturday at 2 p.m. at First United Methodist Church in Walnut Ridge with a reception afterwards in the fellowship hall. Rev. Beth Perdue will officiate. Suggested memorials are to Walnut Ridge First United Methodist Church, The Children's Shelter or the Lawrence County Library. McNabb Funeral Home of Pocahontas is in charge of arrangements.