Curtis Milton Eiland

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Posted by: Matt Boster
Date: Feb 19 2017 8:52 PM

On Saturday August 21st, 1926 Curtis Milton Eiland was born the 7th child of Lorena and Milton Eiland in the small community of Sasser’s Cross Roads in Covington County, Alabama.
 Mr. Eiland passed away in his home in Blue Springs, Alabama at 11:35 pm Friday night surrounded by his family. 
Funeral services will be held 1 p.m., Monday, February 20th at Spring Hill Baptist Church. Rev. Randy Adams, Rev. Bob Cox, Rev. Kenneth Hagler will officiate. Burial will follow in Bethel Cemetery with Keahey Funeral Home of Clio directing. Flowers will be accepted or memorial contributions may be made to the Spring Hill Baptist Church. The family will receive friends from 3 to 7 p.m., Sunday, Feb. 19th at Keahey Funeral Home, 1411 Blue Springs St., Clio, Al 36017.
He is survived by his wife, Peggy Joyce Wilkinson Eiland; three children Carlos Milton Eiland (Bonnie), Amoret Eiland Price, and Stuart Wilkinson Eiland (Sandi); and seven grandchildren Cody Watson Eiland (Ali Grace), Carla McCall Eiland, Cara Elizabeth Eiland, Bridget Price Chapelle (David), Suzanne Price Hunter (James), Carmen Lindsey Eiland, and Sydney Sloan Eiland.
Mr. Eiland attended grade school at Rose Hill and graduated from Straughn High School in 1944.
While attending Alabama Polytechnic Institute (Auburn University), Mr. Eiland was a member of Alpha Gamma Rho.  He waited tables at the Auburn Grill and was also a manager for the basketball team.
In 1948 Mr. Eiland took a job in Barbour County at Blue Springs High School.  It was there that he met Peggy Joyce Wilkinson, the love of his life.  A few short months later on Easter Sunday, April 17th 1949, they were married at the home of her parents, Cody and Alma Wilkinson.
The following two years, Mr. Eiland taught veterans of World War II in Crenshaw County and they lived in Luverne, Alabama.
In 1951, Mr. Eiland returned to Blue Springs, where he taught for the next 15 years.  During that time, Mr. and Mrs. Eiland welcomed their three children: Carlos (1952), Amoret (1955), and Stuart (1957).  Mr. Eiland loved his job and all the students he taught, while Peggy was content to be the housewife and mother.
Mr. Eiland was always active in his community, whether it was coaching the little league team, being a boy scout master, Future Farmers of America leader, or Deacon of Springhill Baptist Church.  During his tenure at Blue Springs, he had many outstanding students who later became educators, lawyers, doctors, and farmers.  He had state FFA officers and many who made different degrees in FFA and Boy Scouts.  But one of his personal goals that he was always proud of was the fact that he was instrumental in helping many of his students put running water and electric wiring in their parents’ home.
After teaching 15 years at Blue Springs, Mr. Eiland’s career took a new turn.  He began teaching in Clio at Barbour County High School.  While in Clio he had a full load.  The FFA boys ventured to the National Convention some even in the FFA National Chorus.  Numerous FFA Chapter Famers were awarded and several received American Farmer Degrees. He also had many Public Speakers.
Also, while in Clio, Mr. Eiland was Scout Master of Clio Troop 101.  While he was the Scout Master of 101, he mentored 11 boys who became Eagle Scouts two of which were his sons.  He achieved the Order of the Arrow and in 1973 was given the Silver Beaver Award which is the top award in the Alabama-Florida Council.
Mr. Eiland was one of the founding members of the Ruritan Club in Clio.  Thorough his involvement he became one of the leading figures for the establishment of the Chitlin Jamboree.
After Clio High School closed, Mr. Eiland spent the twighlight of his teaching career at Louisville High School.  Due to his efforts with the agricultural and teaching communities, a new technical building at Louisville High School was dedicated in his honor.  
Throughout his career, Mr. Eiland was always ready to assist whether it was driving the school bus for athletic events or taking up money for the March of Dimes.  His dedication to the community as a whole was felt by all who knew him.  
After retiring, Mr. Eiland continued to be involved through the Ruritan Club, Blue Springs Park, and his church.  One such was the instillation of a new roof on Bethel Primitive Baptist Church.
Mr. Eiland’s life after retirement was focused around his children and grandchildren.  He enjoyed attending his grandchildren’s sporting events and awards.  He continued to demonstrate his love of Auburn University, and as an avid fan of Auburn sporting events, he was present at most all home football games.  All of his children and grandchildren attended Auburn University furthering his love of the university.
Mr. Eiland was preceded in death by his parents, Milton and Lorena Eiland; sisters, Ruth Bane and Evelyn Shields; son-in-law, Joseph H. Price, brothers, Elmer Eiland, J.C. Eiland, James Eiland, Ferrin Eiland and Athan Eiland.
Pallbearers
Mark Eiland
Al Eiland
Larry Helms
Vince Helms
Craig Long
Steven Wilkinson

Honorary Pallbearers
Marcel Bane
Ben Eiland 
Ferrin Wyatt Eiland, Jr.
Larry Eiland
Tommy Eiland
Russell Eiland
Steven Shields
David Wilkinson

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