Ernest Pope Boland, age 88, died on February 7, 2013. He was the son of Bradley Raymond Boland, Sr. and Annie Lois Goins Boland. He attended school in Columbus, Georgia, Birmingham, Alabama, and graduated from high school in Pahokee, Florida.
Ernest was enlisted in the army during World War II and participated in major campaigns in the South Pacific serving in Company C, 6th Ranger Battalion attached to the 6th Army, and served in three major campaigns in New Guinea, Leyte, and Luzon in the Philippines Islands. He was one of the 120 men of “The Great Raid” on the Cabanatuan Prison Camp, the most successful rescue operation in U.S military history. He graduated from the University of Georgia as an ROTC Distinguished Honor Military Graduate, a member of Scabbard and Blade Military Honor Society, and a member of the ROTC Regimental Staff. He later endowed the William O. Darby award, in memory of the founder of the Rangers, awarded to the outstanding senior ROTC cadet. He served in the army over 36 years entering as a private and retired as a full Colonel. At the time of his retirement, he was the top ranking medical entomologist for the United States Army.
While studying Entomology in graduate school, he started a business, Boland Bonded Pest Control Company, Inc., of Athens, Georgia, which he owned and operated for 37 years.
Ernest was an Eagle Scout and received the Silver Beaver Scouting Award and the Scouter’s Key. He belonged to the Athens Rotary Club, was a Charter Member of Beech Haven Baptist Church, belonged to First Baptist Church of Athens, Georgia, and belonged to First Baptist Church of Pahokee, Florida.
He served as chairman of the Athens Clarke County Consolidation Committee of 1972 and was awarded the Bell Award by the Athens Bar Association for that work. He was selected as the Rotary Citizen of the Year, was President of the Georgia Pest Control Association, belonged to the National Pest Control Association, the American Entomological Society and was a Board Certified Entomologist. After he retired from his business in December of 1988, he raised his three adopted sons at Thornwell Home and School for Children.
For over 40 years, Ernest was actively involved in researching his family genealogy, corresponding with many Boland kin worldwide.
Ernest was pre-deceased by sisters Mary Jim Boland Smith of Columbus, GA, Sara Kate Boland Griffith of West Palm Beach, FL, and brothers Otis Earl of Okeechobee, FL, Robert Thomas (Tom) of Waycross, GA and Bradley Raymond, Jr., of Columbus, GA.
Ernest was one of eight children and is survived by his wife of 61 years, Betty Speer Boland; brothers Cecil Glen (Jan), Jack Ennis (Ruth), sister-in-law Janie; sons Barry Andrew, Thomas Raymond (Elizabeth), Robert Earl (Virginia), Michael Scott (Jennifer); daughter Beth Holland (Tom); granddaughters Rachel and Kathryn Holland, Alden, Avery, Adreana Boland; grandsons Ethan, Noah, Thomas, Bradley, Zachary, Victor, Keller, Graham and many nieces and nephews.
Visitation is Monday, February 11, 2013 at 10:00 a.m. at Bernstein’s Funeral Home, Atlanta Hwy with the funeral following at 11:00 a.m. Interment will be at 2:00 p.m. the following day in Parkhill Cemetary, Columbus, GA.
It is requested that in lieu of flowers that donations be made to Thornwell Home and School for Children, P.O. Box 60, Clinton, S.C. 29325.
On line condolences may be made atwww.bernsteinfuneralhome.com
Bernstein Funeral Home and Cremation Service is in charge of arrangements.
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