Rupert Earl Breland, age 80, born on May 18, 1935, in Bogalusa, passed away on Friday, May 22, 2015, at St. Tammany Parish Hospital in Covington.

He was a member and deacon of Superior Avenue Baptist Church and also taught Sunday school for many years. He was an ordained Baptist minister. He taught school in Louisiana and Mississippi for 40 years. He was former first vice president of the Louisiana Teachers Association and Boy Scout Troop 86 leader. He made three canoe trips to Canada with scouting. He was former president of the Bogalusa Lions Club and Citizen of the Year in 1972. He was honored by the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission for years of teaching hunter safety.

He is survived by his wife, Bertha Nell Breland of Bogalusa; one daughter, Cynthia Ann Wallace and husband, Brad, of Bogalusa; two sons, Rupert Earl “Butch” Breland II and wife, Sherri, of Bogalusa and Baron B. Breland and wife, Julie, of Mobile; one sister, Gail Griffin and husband, Bill, of Pearlington, Miss.; one brother, Don L. Breland of Diamondhead, Miss.; eight grandchildren, Emily McCrary and husband, Brian, Erin Gonzales and husband, Guillermo, Rupert Earl “Roo” Breland III, Rory Nathaniel, Heather Boyet and husband, Dwayne, Kaley Breland, Anna Claire Breland and Nicholas Peterson Breland; and two great-grandchildren, Ethan Boyet and Huttie Gonzales.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Earl and Mittie Breland; granddaughter, Sara Katherine Breland; mother-in-law and father-in-law, Lewis and Maudina Harper; two brothers, Dan Strahan and Ronnie Breland; and a sister-in-law, Brenda Grayson.

Visitation will be held at Poole-Ritchie Funeral Home on Saturday, May 23, 2015, from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Visitation will continue at Superior Avenue Baptist Church on Sunday, May 24, 2015, from noon to 1:30 p.m. The funeral services will be held at 1:30 p.m., with the Rev. Clay Norwood and the Rev. Paul Corse officiating. Entombment will follow at Sanctuary of Peace Mausoleum.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Venture Crew 313 c/o Col. Bobby Miller or Superior Avenue Baptist Church.

To view and sign the register book, visit pooleritchiefuneralhome.com.