Charles Leslie Cleland

Charles L. (Chuck) Cleland was born in Cairo, WV, August 26, 1927, son of Ronald and Dorothy Cleland, both now deceased. He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Elaine H. Cleland. He died March 4, 2018 in Sykesville, Maryland. Charles retired after 39 years of service at the University of Tennessee (UT) in Knoxville where he was a professor of Rural Sociology in the Department of Agricultural Economics and Rural Sociology. He was a member of several honor societies including Phi Kappa Phi and Gamma Sigma Delta among others. He also served as Student Ombudsman for UT for 15 years. He was educated in the public schools of Charleston, WV. His collegiate education included Denison University, The University of Charleston (BA), Harvard University, University of Wisconsin, Madison (MS and PhD). Charles served in the military from 1946 through 1948 with the Air Force where he was an instructor in aircraft armament. He was honorably discharged with the rank of S/Sgt.

Charles was a member of Sequoyah Hills Presbyterian Church where he served as an elder and was for many years a member of the church choir. Since moving to Sykesville, he transferred membership to Springfield Presbyterian where he continued to be active in the adult choir program. While in Tennessee, he was active in community affairs including involvement in efforts at peaceful desegregation as well as in neighborhood and larger community organizations, e.g., Community Forum where he served as treasurer for a number of years.

Charles is survived by a brother, David H. Cleland of Charleston, WV; daughters Rebecca Cleland and husband Ben Seymour of Tryon, NC and Linda Cleland Caviglia and husband Anthony Caviglia of Marriottsville, MD and their three children Cynthia Lukyanenko and husband Anton, Catherine White and husband Reider and Nicholas. An older brother, Don, of California predeceased him.

A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, March 17, 2018, 11:00 AM, Springfield Presbyterian Church, 7300 Spout Hill Rd., Sykesville, MD 21784.

Memorial contributions to Springfield Presbyterian Church.