Wellington “Bill” Cleveland passed peacefully on April 6th 2016 surrounded by his loving wife Eriberta “Bert” and his dedicated son David at his bed side at Florida Hospital. Bill was 97 and lived a long life of adventure and logic. A friend once referred to him as a “Mini-Me Indiana Jones” after learning he had packed a machete made from an old leaf spring on his latest return trip from the Philippines when he was in his 70’s.
Wellington was better known as Bill Cleveland. His 9th grade teacher at Windsor high school decided “Wellington” was too long a name for him and said: “I am not calling you Wellington all year. Your name is now Bill”. The name stayed with him, with the exception of his parents who continued to call him Wellington for the rest of their lives.
Bill was born in East Windsor, NY on February 4, 1919 to Harry and Ina Cleveland. He grew up in upstate New York. Bill enlisted in the Army Air Corp in December 1942. He was honorably discharged in February 1946 after serving in the Pacific theater of WWII.
After the war he attended Embry Riddle Aeronautical in Miami Florida, graduating in the first aerospace engineering program in 1949. He moved back to upstate New York where he met Ruth Ann Hathaway and her daughter Anne. They were married January 6, 1951, and had a son, David, in November. The family moved to Orlando, Florida in June of 1954 where he became an aerospace engineer at the budding space program in Cape Canaveral Florida.
Following 43 years together Ruth Ann preceded him in death on January 6, 1994. Bill later met and married Eriberta Abrogar on March 18, 1995 in Orlando Florida where they shared 21 years together. Bill is survived by his wife Eriberta “Bert”, his son David Cleveland (Betty), his daughter Anne Duff (Bob), his grandchildren Robert Duff (Jennifer), Jennifer Seidl (Mick), and Holly Cleveland and his five great grandchildren: Leah, Alanna, Logan, Daniel and Alex.
A Celebration of Life Gathering will be held on Sunday April 10, from 6-7 PM at Real Life Christian Church East Campus located at 2413 South Goldenrod Road, Orlando, FL 32822. 407-826-1129.
On Tuesday, April 12th at 12:30 PM, Bill will be honorably laid to rest at the Florida National Cemetery located at 6502 SW 102nd Avenue, Bushnell Florida. Flowers are not permitted at this location.
In lieu of flowers the family would appreciate donations be made to Real Help, a ministry of Real Life Christian Church that supports veterans, the elderly and anyone in need of vital home repairs and modifications. www.real.life Checks can be mailed to REAL LIFE, REAL HELP, 1501 Steves Road, Clermont FL 34711, 352-394-3553.
