Mike was born October 11, 1932 in Piney Grove, North Carolina to the late Isham Ray and Mattie Estelle Miller.
He is survived by his beloved wife of 70 years, Betty Jean. He is also survived by his children Donnie Lee (Simone), Anita Jo Sedlak (Richard), Johnny Ray (Tamera) and Gwendolyn Sue Sedlak (John).
He was a proud Grandpa to his grandchildren, Joshua and Jeremy Bland~Shana Bryson, Jared and Jesse Bland~Betsy Robert and Tracy Henninger~Andrew, and Daniel Bland~Olivia Sedlak and many loving great-grandchildren and nephews and nieces. He is survived by his sister Fannie Ruth Floyd.
He was preceded in death by his oldest child, Ronnie Gene (Debbie) in January, his parents and his brothers, Isham Ray Jr, and Ray Isham.
Mike was a radio operator in the U.S. Army during the Korean War when he was a young man of 17. After returning from the Korean conflict with a Purple Heart, he joined the Air Force and spent most of his service as an Auto Pilot technician and, in his later years, as an instructor. After retiring from the Air Force as a technical sergeant, he worked as a Sears Technician until his retirement.
He loved bowling, golfing, and fishing with his wife in his old "Bass Buggy". Mike also enjoyed watching old war & Western movies, camping, and his wife’s cooking.
He was a great story-teller and had a great sense of humor right up to the very end.
The internment for TSgt Warden Bland, with military honors, will be held at the Beaufort National Cemetery on Monday, June 24th at 11:00 am. The Patriot Guard will escort the funeral procession and we will depart at 8:45 am from Carolina Memorial Gardens, 7113 Rivers Ave, North Charleston S.C. Please feel free to join the family in the procession or meet us at the National Cemetery.
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