William J. "Bill" Cleaver

William J. "Bill" Cleaver, 92, of Fishing Creek Township, died Monday evening, June 13th, 2022 at the Geisinger Bloomsburg Hospital. 

He was born in Berwick, the son of the late George C. Cleaver and Helen (Creasy) Cleaver in 1930.  He was one of the last to obtain an eighth grade diploma from a one-room school.  He attended Orangeville High School and then graduated from Benton High School in 1948.  He was a graduate of Bloomsburg State Teachers College and earned his Master's from Bucknell University.  He also did graduate work at Wilkes College and Temple University.

He was a veteran of the Korean War, having served in Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE) as Troop Information and Education NCO, and a lifetime member of the V. F. W.   

He began his teaching career in the Pennsburg School District, and after his military service was employed by the North Centre School.  Following that he was employed by the Central Columbia District for 25 years.  On an interim basis he was employed by the U. S. Department of Agriculture for a number of years. 

He was a member of the Zion United Church of Christ where he served on the consistory and was Sunday School Superintendent.

He was a charter member of Chapter H, Gold Wing Road Riders, and a lifetime member, and with his wife, toured 47 of the 48 contiguous states and all the Provinces of Canada on a motorcycle.  They had also toured in Europe and Mexico. 

Surviving are his five children:  Levon Cleaver and his wife, Carmie, of Berwick; Lona Smith and her husband, Joel, of Orangeville; Lachelle Fulmer and her husband, Thomas, of Orangeville; Lorelei Harmon and her husband, Kevin, of Berwick; Leslie Zoltowski and her husband, Gerard, of Boyertown.  Also surviving are 8 grandchildren and  7 great grandchildren.

Also surviving are his two sisters:  Colleen Kindig and Helen Rebecca "Becky" Cleaver, of Orangeville. 

Along with his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife of 60 years,  Esther (Clossen) Cleaver on July 23, 2014; and his siblings:  Preston Cleaver, George Cleaver, Fred Cleaver, and Miriam Fisher. 

Funeral Services will be held Friday, June 17th, 2022  at 11 A. M. at the Zion United Church of Christ, 24 Zion Church Road, Orangeville, with the Rev. Mark E. Rowell, his Pastor, officiating.  Burial will be in the Zion Cemetery, Fishing Creek Township with full Military Honors.  A Viewing will be held Friday from 9 AM until the time of the Service at 11:00 at the Zion Church.  In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in his memory to Zion United Church of Christ, c/o Lachelle Fulmer, 117 Martenas Road, Orangeville, PA 17859. The McMichael Funeral Home, Inc., of Benton, is honored to serve the Cleaver Family.

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