William Robert “Bobby” Bland was born on Halloween, 1944 in New York City and passed away peacefully on February 26, 2026 in his favorite chair after returning from a William and Mary basketball game. They won! Go Tribe!
He was the oldest child of the late James Field Bland and Martha Thompson Bland. He is also predeceased by his brother, James Thompson Bland.
He is survived by his wife of 36 years Sarah Bridges Ford Bland and their 3 daughters Robin Dorsey Bland of Virginia Beach, Martha “Mollie” Carter Bland Brown (Chris) of Richmond, and Elizabeth “Libby” James Bland of Williamsburg. Also surviving are his sisters Mary Lynn Wilding (Artie), Julia Blankinship, and many nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews. He loved his animals: his Brittany dogs Rosie and Max, his kitties Hewie and Lewie, and his outdoor fish.
Bob grew up in Bethesda, MD. He attended the College of William and Mary where he earned his B.A. in 1966. At W&M he was a member of Sigma Nu fraternity and R.O.T.C. Upon graduation he entered the U.S. Army where he served for 2 years in Germany as a First Lieutenant in the Military Police, receiving an Army Commendation Medal. After completion of his duty he entered The Marshall Wythe School of Law at W&M, graduating in 1971. During law school he worked as a Park Ranger for the National Park Service at Jamestown and Yorktown. Upon being admitted to the Virginia State Bar he continued to make Williamsburg his home. He joined the law firm that became Stone, Bland and Pugh making it the first integrated law firm in the Commonwealth of Virginia. In 1988 he joined the firm of Phillips, Bartlett and Skinner, and in 1997 opened his own general practice. He is a past member of the Williamsburg Bar Association and the Virginia State Bar. He retired in 2017.
Bob believed in service and commitment to his community throughout his Williamsburg residency of 62 years. He was a member of Williamsburg Presbyterian Church where he served as a past trustee and children’s Sunday school teacher. He is a past member of the Williamsburg/James City County School Board, the Williamsburg Health Foundation and the Board of Directors of Bacon Street. His children carry on this legacy in their careers: Robin a Prosecutor, Mollie an Occupational Therapist, and Libby a Teacher.
Bob loved everything W&M! He was a lifetime supporter of Tribe Athletics and its Quarterback Club. He was their biggest fan! For over 50 years he held season tickets along with parking passes to Tribe football and basketball. In some of these early years he also had 2 season tickets for his beer cooler. His daughters grew up going to all things W&M including athletics, tailgates, dinners and homecoming parades. Bob was so proud when Libby, his youngest, went to W&M.
Bob greatly appreciated the Arts. He met Sarah after attending the 1988 spring concert of the Williamsburg Choral Guild of which she was the artistic director. Their first date was to a production by the Williamsburg Players. Throughout their marriage he was always supportive of her professional music career. He attended her various music concerts and often the church wherever she was serving as organist. He was pleased when she was invited to be an adjunct piano instructor at W&M, a position that lasted 15 years.
Most of all Bob was a family man. He was always very close to his nieces and nephews when they were growing up. He remained equally as attentive to their families after they married and had children. When his own daughters were born he was over the moon. His love and devotion to them were unmatched. He took them everywhere, even when they were very young, with diaper bag and stroller in tow. He was often their chauffeur to dance classes, soccer practice and early morning summer swim team practice. He coached his girls’ rec league basketball teams and was Kingswood Pool’s “grill master” for many summers. He attended every athletic game, match and meet, both home and away, plus band concerts and dance recitals. Even when they were in college he attended club tennis matches at ECU and W&M, and choral and band concerts at UVA. He was a regular at UVA football games because Mollie was in the marching band. Family vacations included a southwest tour, weeks at Virginia State Parks, and the annual Bland Family beach trips even though he hated the sand. He loved family gatherings, especially at the Bland Family “Riverhouse”, for picnics and boating adventures on the Chickahominy.
There will be a visitation at Bucktrout Funeral Home on Thursday, March 5, 5pm-7pm. A Memorial Service and reception will be held at Williamsburg Presbyterian Church on Saturday, March 7 at 11 a.m. Burial will be private.
In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to Williamsburg Presbyterian Church (undesignated), 215 Richmond Rd. 23185, The Salvation Army, 216 Ironbound Rd. 23185, W&M HEYFARL football walk-on scholarships, (make check to WMAF memo HEYFARL) P.O. Box 399 Williamsburg, 23187 or W&M Quarterback Club in care of Sandy Fagan, 205 Vintage Ct. Williamsburg, 23188.
