Oliver W Bliss

1919 - 2013

Oliver "Winston" Bliss was born on May 15, 1919 in Braymer, Missouri to Oliver Wendell and Nancy Louella Bliss. In high school Winston excelled in sports and was a first tenor in the performance choir. After graduating high school, Winston worked a few odd jobs but soon entered the United States Navy when called to duty during WWII. Beginning his career in the USN he was able to continue using his beautiful tenor voice as he was chosen to sing in the Navy Choir. In his service on the Battleship The North Carolina Winston served as a medical corpsman and remained in that field of service until he retired after 20 years of service as a Chief Petty Officer serving on the Haven Hospital Ship stationed in San Pedro, California.

Winston was a faithful Christian and while stationed in Charleston, South Carolina, met Evelyn "Juanita" Vaughn at the local Church of Christ that her family attended. They were married on October 6, 1945. Their family grew over the next 10 years adding three sons and two daughters. Winston and family moved to Westminster, CA in 1957 where they began attending the Westminster Church of Christ, later renamed the Newland Street Church of Christ. There Winston served as a deacon, a Bible school teacher and also sang in the church chorus, of course! Winston also started several Slow Pitch Baseball teams with the young men and teenage boys of the church and at one time his 3 sons and 2 son-in-laws all played together on his team.

When Winston retired from the USN he went to work for the U. S. Postal Service in Westminster, California where he was secretary to the Post Master during most of his employment. After 22 years with the Post Office Winston retired and was ready for a life of leisure. Sadly, soon after he retired, Juanita was diagnosed with cancer and 4 years later passed away.

Being an avid ball player all his life Winston started traveling with a group of men with the same passion for Slow Pitch Baseball as him. They traveled across the United States and Canada playing Slow Pitch Baseball tournaments, winning 5 World Series rings!

Winston traveled alone for 13 years then was blessed to marry again at the age of 80. He married Eulalia "Evie" Stice on May 19, 1999. Being life long friends and members of the Newland Street Church of Christ, 3 years after Evie's husband Glen passed away they began to enjoy each other's company and soon decided, as they put it, "why not!" Soon after they were married they decided to relocate to Victorville, CA where they lived until Evie passed away unexpectedly after 12 years of marriage.

Alone once again, Winston was invited to live with his son and daughter-in-law, Steve and Rose Bliss, in Phelan, CA. where he resided until his passing.

Winston passed away on November 27, 2013 at home in Phelan. He is survived by one brother, Johnny Bliss and his son Jim;

one sister-in-law, Leola Bliss and her daughter Judy; son, Michael Bliss, his wife Paula; daughter, Patricia Robertson; son, Steve Bliss, his wife Rose; daughter, Cindy Pelissier, her husband Mike; son, Rick Bliss, his wife Debbie; fifteen grandchildren and twenty-four great-grandchildren.