Peter van der Blom

Funeral services for Peter van der Blom, 88, of Oxford, will be held at 2:00 pm, Saturday, February, 15, 2014, at Gray Brown-Service with Rev. Amy DeWitte officiating. Burial will follow at Highland Cemetery. The family will receive friends Saturday from 12:30 - 2:00 pm at the funeral home.

Mr. van der Blom was a native of the Netherlands, born September 29, 1925 in Zanndam, Holland and served as a jet fighter pilot in the Dutch Royal Air Force prior to making his home in Anniston in 1954. He retired from the Planning Department of the Anniston Army Depot in March 1988 after 29 years and was a 14th degree Mason. Pete passed away at his home, Panarama Ranch, on Monday February, 10, 2014. He is preceded in death by his wife Clara Margaret van der Blom, brothers John and Jerry van der Blom.

Always the avid pilot, he served as Squadron Commander in the Civil Air Patrol of Calhoun County, owned and operated Cheaha Flying Service, at the Talladega Motor Speedway, and was dubbed by his friends "The Flying Dutchman". Along with his love of flying, his many hobbies included playing the organ, traveling, golfing, snow skiing, raising cattle, hosting local little league baseball and following Alabama football as their #1 fan. He was a long time member and Deacon at Dodson Presbyterian Church in Oxford.

Survivors include his wife, Alline van der Blom; daughters, Margret(Meg) Sapp and Dina Birch (Richard); son, David(Brandy) van der Blom (Tanya); step-children, Debra Martin (Kenny), Jan Parton (Tony), Tammie Cook (Chris); grandchildren, Lindsey, Jess, Wes, Piet, Diny, Marty, Katy, Elizabeth, Peter, and Jason; step-grandchildren, Tristian, Kayla, and Christy; great grandchildren, Ayden, Skylar, Bear, and Collun; step-great grandchild, Wyatt; sister, Dina Wood; niece, Margret Ann Boozer-Strother and nephew, David Edward Boozer and 12 nieces and nephews in Australia and London; caregivers, Michele Goss and Dorothy Boozer.