William Bryan Land

William Bryan Land, 90, of Cottonton, AL passed away Wednesday afternoon, July 8, 2015 in Cottonton, AL. Mr. Land was born on the family farm in Cottonton, AL to Wesley Miller Land and Mozell McLeroy Land. He attended the public schools at Cottonton and Grove Hill, Alabama. He was baptized at the age of 14 in the creek beside his home church of Mt. Lebanon Baptist Church. Mr. Land completed the freshman year at Auburn University before entering the Army in March of 1943. He served with the 87th Infantry Division in Europe where he participated in four major campaigns including the Battle of the Bulge and the Rhineland. Returning to Auburn University after the war, he received degrees in Agricultural and Mechanical Engineering and later received a Master of Science degree in Agricultural Engineering from the University of Georgia. He married Ruth Moore of Cottonton on April 2, 1949. He worked at Georgia Power as an engineer for 28 years; he created and managed the Residential Heat Pump Program. After retiring in 1984, he returned to Cottonton and was involved in the community where he was raised. He served as a Deacon at Cottonton Baptist Church, Secretary-Treasurer of the Fort Mitchell Water System, and President of the Board of the Cottonton Volunteer Fire Department and was former Fire Chief. Other than his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife of 59 years, Ruth Moore Land, sister, Annie Lizzie Prestwood, and brothers, Theodore Everett Land, Harvey Wilford Land, and Wesley Miller Land, Jr. He is survived by two sons, Richard Bryan Land and wife Ande of Melbourne Beach, FL, and Jeffery Miller Land and wife Kaye of Smiths Station, AL, one brother, James Land and wife Helen of Birmingham, AL; four grandchildren, Jessica Crush (Jim) of Melbourne Beach, FL, Lindsay Rivera (Robert) of Phenix City, AL, Ashleigh Land of Atlanta, GA, and Will Land (Whitney) of Ellerslie, GA, three great grandchildren, Jake Crush, Tyler Rivera, and Lillie Rivera, numerous nieces, nephews, extended family, and many caring friends. Celebration of Life services will be held 2:00 pm EDT Saturday, July 11, 2015 at Cottonton Baptist Church with Rev. Robert Rhodes officiating. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service on Saturday at the church. A private interment will follow at a later time. Flowers are welcome or contributions may be made to Cottonton Baptist Church, Mt. Lebanon Baptist Church, or Cottonton Volunteer Fire Department. Online condolences may be at www.vancememorialchapel.net