Mr. Daniel Robin Bolling, age 76, of Murfreesboro, Tennessee peacefully passed away with family at his side on the evening of Tuesday, June 18, 2019 from complications of cancer. He was born in Cincinnati, Ohio and spent parts of his youth living at Flat Gap, Kentucky and Coeburn, Virginia. Mr. Bolling proudly served his country in the United States Army for over 20 years, attaining the rank of Major. He also served in the Civil Service at the Pentagon in Washington DC and Fort Eustis, Virginia.
Mr. Bolling is survived by his sons Michael Robin Bolling of Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina; Richard Kelly Bolling of Murfreesboro; Jeffrey Neal Bolling with daughter-in-law Ronda, of Murfreesboro; three grandchildren, including Specialist Jacob Daniel Bolling (United States Army), Noel Nicole Bolling, and Emma Grace Bolling, all of Murfreesboro; siblings from the Montpelier, Indiana area including Jim Bolling, Sue Bolling Taylor, Larry Bolling, Gerald Bolling, William Randal Franklin Bolling, Tom Bolling and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his wife Earlene and parents Orville Johnce Howington and Dorothy Hillman, and stepfather Earl Bolling.
As native of Coeburn, Mr. Bolling enlisted in the United States Army after high school in 1961 and in the following year married Earlene Ellison, of Pound, Virginia. Dan completed Field Artillery Officer Candidate School in 1967 and then graduated from the parachute course prior to assignment to 1st Battalion, 320th Field Artillery, 82nd Airborne Division. He served in Vietnam with the 101st Airborne Division in 1968-69 as a combat infantry Forward Observer, Assistant Executive Officer (AXO) and Executive Officer (XO).
Mr. Bolling’s military experience included two tours in Vietnam during the war, three years of Battery Command, Battalion S-3 (organizing combat operations), Division Artillery assistant S-3, and four years as a General Staff Officer. Dan’s military awards include two Bronze Stars, Meritorious Service Medal, five Army Commendation Medals, South Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry with Palm and numerous civilian citations and awards.
Following his military retirement in 1981, Dan worked oversea for Vinnel Corporation as a Training Planner, coordinating the modernization of the Saudia Arabian National Guard. In 1983 he began his civil service career at Fort Campbell, Kentucky as the installation’s Training Ammunition Manager. In 1985, Dan transferred for a promotion as a Training Resources Specialist at Fort Drum, New York and in 1986 became Chief of Training Division (Directorate of Plans, Training, Mobilization and Security, United States Army) at Fort Drum.
By October 1989, Dan joined the Army Training Support Center at Fort Eustis, Virginia as a Training Specialist (Ammunition). There, he became a subject matter expert and coordinated with twenty major commands and other agencies to maintain a comprehensive weapons training ammunition database. He provided Army-wide training ammunition requirements to the Headquarters, Department of the Army for budgeting and procurement actions until 2005.
Dan shared his love of the outdoors with his sons to include fishing, hunting, boating and hiking. As a youth, he enjoyed swimming, card playing, pool, exploring caves and spending time in the Explorer Scouts. Always keen to play a game of horseshoes or share humor, Dan was also an avid reader of western-genre novels. He enjoyed martial and patriotic music.
Mr. Bolling will be missed by his sons who received good fatherly support to the very end of his life and by friends for his sense of humor and professionalism.
Interment of Mr. Bolling’s along with wife Earlene’s cremated remains will take place on a future determined date at Arlington National Cemetery, Virginia.
Additionally, an informal gathering of close friends and family for a Celebration of Dan’s Life will take place on Sunday, June 30th 2019 from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm at the residence of Jeff and Ronda Bolling, 452 Annadel Street, Murfreesboro, Tennessee. For further information about the gathering, please contact Jeff at [email protected] or 615-542-5632
An online guestbook is available for the family at www.woodfinchapel.com
Woodfin Memorial Chapel (615) 893-5151
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