Vivian Leota (Penny) Penwright Bland passed from this life on January 3, 2025, in Eldorado, Schleicher county, Texas. She was born July 25, 1926, at home near Calumet, Canadian county, Oklahoma to Oliver Lee and Lora Laura (Cubbage) Penwright. She attended Calumet schools and graduated from Calumet High School in 1943. She played basketball, performed in plays, sang solos, and sang in quartets. She also played the piano and took dance lessons.
Penny attended the University of Oklahoma (OU) where she sang in the women’s glee club and participated in a pep group. She graduated in 1949 with a BS degree in Library Science and then stayed another semester and received a BA in history, while waiting for Bob Bland to finish his engineering degree. They married in April of 1950 shortly after graduation and lived in Kansas before Bob was transferred to Texas, moving every two years until they moved to Eldorado in May of 1960. They loved Eldorado and chose to stay for the remainder of their lives. She and Bob enjoyed traveling the world after his retirement.
Penny engaged in her children’s activities as a scout leader, room mother, in booster clubs, and whatever else was needed. She participated in the Dora Lee Circle and Martha’s Angels at the Methodist Church, served the community on the library board, hospital board, and as interim hospital administrator, was a member of the Eldorado Woman’s Club and Shrine Daughters of the Nile, and supported the Way off Broadway Players. She taught 2nd grade for one year in Eldorado.
Penny was a talented china painter and served as president of two porcelain art clubs (San Angelo and Kerrville) and served an appointed position for the Texas State Federation of Porcelain Art Clubs. She was a member of the International Porcelain Artists and Teachers organization.
Penny was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, and her two sisters. She is survived by son Mark Bland of Eldorado, TX; daughters Marian (Donnie) Overstreet of Devine, TX, Carolyn (Sammy) Williams of Plano, TX, and Frances Furry of Lake Dallas, TX; sister-in-law Ramona Carpenter of Piedmont, KS; grandchildren David (Maria) Overstreet, Kati Holley (Mike Proulx), Lee Overstreet, Todd (Geneva) Overstreet, Zack Furry, and Madison Furry; great-grandchildren Nyx Overstreet, Nora Overstreet, Garrett (Majessa) Ortega, Dalton Pardue, Michaela Holley, Landry Holley, Willow Holley, and Ray Castro; and great-great granddaughter, Remi Ortega. Penny is also survived by special caregivers, Lizzy Fuentes and Alicia Martinez.
The family would like to thank the staff of Schleicher County Nursing Home and St. Gabriel’s Hospice for their care.
Funeral services will be held at 10:30 am Tuesday, January 7, 2025, at the Eldorado Cemetery Chapel in Eldorado, Texas.
Interment will follow at the Eldorado cemetery.
Pall bearers: Robert Parker, David Overstreet, Todd Overstreet, Lee Overstreet, Zack Furry, and Ray Castro.
Services are under the direction of Love Funeral Home in Eldorado, Texas.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Alzheimer’s Association https://act.alz.org/site/Donation, American Macular Degeneration Foundation https://www.macular.org/want-to- help/donate, or charity of your choice.
