Mildred Gail (Wilkerson) Bland

Mildred Gail Bland, 88, of Franklin, formerly North Vernon, passed away at 9:35 p.m. on Thursday, November 8, 2018, at Our Hospice of South Central Indiana Inpatient Facility.

Born August 19, 1930, in Jennings County, Mrs. Bland was the daughter of the late Carl Bortz and Lela Catherine (Gooding) Wilkerson. She married Louis Orval “Blandy” Bland on November 10, 1950, at the North Vernon Presbyterian Church. He preceded her in death on January 2, 2012.

Mrs. Bland was a 1948 graduate of North Vernon Highs School. She worked as a nursing aid for the former Muscatatuck State Developmental Center in Butlerville, a CASA worker and at the Courthouse and Election Polls. Mrs. Bland was a member of the First Christian Church in North Vernon and the Red Hat Society.  She enjoyed sewing, needlepoint and quilting.

Survivors include her daughter, Rhonda (Dennis) Clarkson of Whiteland; sons, Ray (David Gadberry) Bland of Columbus, and Roger (Brittany) Bland of North Vernon; brother, Marvin (Sandy) Wilkerson of Scipio; sisters, Bonnie (Leonard) Meek of North Vernon, Mary Wilkerson of Shreveport, Louisiana, and Francis Galyen of Hartsville; grandchildren, Michael (Rachel) Clarkson of Groton, New York, Joseph (Tara) Clarkson of Louisville, Kentucky, Adam (Marla) Clarkson of Kokomo and Dakoda Bland of North Vernon; great-grandchildren, Ivy and Annabelle Clarkson both of Louisville, Kentucky, and Evan and Laura Clarkson both of Kokomo.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband; and siblings, Valera Decker, Dorothy Elslager, and Nellie, Alvin, Bob, Harold, Carl, John and Donald Wilkerson.

A funeral service for Mrs. Bland will be conducted at 1:00 p.m. on Wednesday, November 14, 2018, at the Dove-Sharp & Rudicel Funeral Home and Cremation Service with the Rev. Ron Bridgewater officiating. Family and Friends may call on Tuesday, November 13, 2018, from 4:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. and one hour prior to the service on Wednesday. Burial will be at a later date in the Dupont Cemetery.

Memorials may be made through the funeral home to Our Hospice of South Central Indiana Inpatient Facility.  

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Mildred Gail (Wilkerson) Bland, please visit our floral store.