Sylvia Viola Bland, 78, of Ottumwa, died at 2:24 a.m. October 13, 2025 at home.
She was born December 25, 1946 in Ottumwa to Booker T. and Pearl Spencer Winston. Sylvia married Cornell Steven Bland on June 2, 1969.
A 1965 graduate of Ottumwa High School, she won speech contests around the state and country. Sylvia was awarded a Rockefeller Scholarship and earned a B.A. from Grinnell College and a M.A. in speech and language pathology from Southern Illinois University.
She worked in the A.E.A. in Davenport for over 10 years and then in Ottumwa, retiring after 42 years of service. She had an extreme passion for helping children through the school districts in which she worked.
Sylvia was a founding member of The Rock Church on Main St., where she was known as “Mother” and had taught Sunday school. In her youth she enjoyed participating in 4-H and especially enjoyed showing pigs. While her kids were growing up, Sylvia coached their AAU basketball teams and later coached boys’ basketball for Ottumwa High School.
Surviving is her husband, Cornell; their children, Angie Bland of Minneapolis, MN, Tommy Bland of Ottumwa, Theo (Jessica) Bland of Oakland, NE, Josh (Michelle) Bland of Las Vegas, NV and Tanisha Bland Lott of Ottumwa; 14 grandchildren, Shawn Willis, Marcus Bland, Bailey Bland, Brooks Bland, Benson Bland, Brigz Bland, Josh and Jaxon Bland, Jackson Bland, Mia Miller, Jordan Miller, Devon Miller, Olivia Stroud and Kaylor Grooms; 2 great-grandchildren, Jaysiah Hendricks and Nevaha Carter; 3 sisters, Linda Winston of Cedar Rapids, Markay Winston of Bloomington, IN and Melanie Campbell of Ottumwa; 3 brothers, Lester Brown of San Antonio, TX, Richard Hayman of Peoria, IL and Charles Winston.
Sylvia was preceded in death by her parents; a son, Kelvin “Pee-Wee” Bland; and a brother, Timothy Winston.
Visitation with her family present to greet friends will be from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. Friday, October 17th, at Reece Funeral Home. Funeral services will follow at 10 a.m. Friday with Rev. Diane Koger officiating. Burial will be in Ottumwa Cemetery.
Memorials may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
