Walter O'Neal Cleaveland

Walter O. Cleaveland
1925 – 2018
U.S. Army WWII Veteran

Walter O’Neal “Chief” Cleaveland, 93, passed away on Sunday, December 30, 2018, at WellStar West Georgia Medical Center. He had been a long term resident at Florence Hand Home since January 2018.
Walter was born at home in Troup County GA on October 13, 1925 to the late Charles Leon Cleaveland and Mary Paul Smith Cleaveland, the youngest of four children. He was preceded in death by his siblings Charles Leon Cleaveland Jr, Louise Cleaveland Horni, and Robert Wesley “Bill” Cleaveland.

He was a WWII Army veteran and served in the GA National Guard for several years after he returned home. On July 25, 1946, Walter married Jewell V. Moody, a marriage that lasted 62.5 years until her death February 25, 2010. Together they worked with numerous young people in the Methodist Church for many years. Following his retirement from Visqueen, they would spend 3-6 months in their camper in Maggie Valley, NC. A member of First United Methodist Church of Pine Mountain, he attended Maggie Valley United Methodist Church while camping.

After his wife’s death, he reconnected with childhood friend, Julia Corless Swetnam, and they entered into a religious commitment on August 14, 2010 which lasted until her death April 21, 2014. They enjoyed traveling between his and her homes in GA, NC and SC.

Surviving Walter O. Cleaveland are nieces/nephews: Gayle C. O’Neal, Wesley (Pam) Cleaveland, Walter R. (Cindy) Cleaveland, Beverly C (Marvin) Garner, and Edward Horni. Also Julia’s daughter Nancy Williams (Patrick) Sieverts.

A memorial service celebrating the life of Walter will be held on Saturday, January 12, 2019 at 11 a.m. at the First United Methodist Church of Pine Mountain, GA. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that contributions be made to First United Methodist Church, Pine Mountain , GA; Maggie
Valley United Methodist Church, Maggie Valley, NC or an organization of your choice.