PAUL EUGENE "GENE" OLIVER, JR.

Paul Eugene "Gene" Oliver, Jr, 77 of Bland, VA, passed away Monday, March 20, 2023 at Kindred Hospital, Greensboro, NC.  Born in Bluefield, WV, he was the son of the late Paul Eugene Oliver, Sr and Edna Stewart Oliver.  He was a 1963 graduate of Bluefield (Beaver) High School. He attended Frederick Military Academy and Concord College, graduating from Bluefield State College. Gene retired from Norfolk Southern Railroad after approximately 40 years of service. He served his country in the United States Army and retiring with the rank of Captain. He was a member of Bland United Methodist Church, Bland, VA.  Gene was passionate about being a Mason. He loved spending time with Masonic Brothers, teaching them and refining the Masonic Ritual works. He was a member of the Grand Lodge AF&FM of Virginia: Bland Lodge #206, Harmon Lodge #222, Pocahontas Lodge #240, Ivanhoe Lodge #235 and Intermont Lodge #269. He was the Past District Deputy Grand Master, Past Master of Harmon #222 and Bland #206.  He was the Current Treasurer of Bland #206, a member of Widows Sons, member and Past Patron of Bland Chapter #41, Order of the Eastern Star, current member of the Grand Lodge of Virginia and served on the Committee on Works, Districts #40-42.  In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a brother, Joseph Edwin Oliver.

He will be lovingly and affectionately missed by his wife of 57 years: Carol Maupin Oliver; his daughters: Becky Oliver of Bland, VA and Heather Oliver of Huntington, WV; grandchild: Graham Jones of Charlotte, NC; brother: Steven Stewart Oliver; several nieces and nephews; and his fur baby, his Golden Retriever: DaisyMae.

A service to celebrate Gene's life will be held Thursday, March 23, 2023 at 2:00 P.M. at Dudley Memorial Chapel with Pastor George Brown officiating.  Burial will follow at Maple Hill Cemetery.  Last Masonic Rites will be conducted at the gravesite by Brother Michael Weiss and members of the Grand Lodge AF&FM of the Virginias. His Mason Brothers, Billy Durham, Gary Taylor, Joel Cagle, Mark Mustard, Bryan Webb and David Nichols will serve as pallbearers.

Friends may visit with the family on Thursday at the funeral home from 1:00 P.M. until the hour of the service.