George Fredric Cleaver's Obituary
GEORGE FREDRIC CLEAVER
George was born in Detroit in 1920. He grew up in Holly, Michigan where he attended school. He loved American history and one of his favorite memories was reciting the Gettysburg Address at the cemetery on Memorial Day. He served his country in World War II, spending 48 months in the Signal Corps of the U.S. Army. He worked in correspondence and cryptography, using the code machine of that time. His service took him to North Africa, Sicily, Italy, France and Germany.
When he returned to Holly he met and married the pretty valedictorian of the class of 1945, Shirley Helland. They moved to Florida where they had a paint store and George built houses. Although he was self-employed most of his life, George spent a few years working for the U.S. Post Office. This enabled him to return to Michigan to take care of his aging parents.
When he returned to Florida, he settled in Eustis. In 1967 he purchased Mid-State Upholstering, and he and Shirley spent 20 years serving the furniture needs of the Golden Triangle area.
He loved being self-employed, and once said that by having your own business you had to answer directly to God. God blessed his business.
His free time was spent with his family and church. He loved teaching Sunday School and being with people. Due to the fact that he always had peppermints and candy in his Bible bag, the children affectionately called him “Mr. Butterscotch.” He was always young at heart – roller skating with AWANA at 80 and walking in the George Fest Parade at 86.
George took care of his beloved Shirley until she passed away in 2003. He is survived by two children, Connie and David. David is married to Terri Latimer, and they have three sons, Daniel, Mark and Paul. We all love God, our family and our country.
George’s last favorite Bible verse was from Ephesians 4: I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be humble and gentle, be patient, bearing with one another in love.
Funeral services will be held in the First Baptist Church of Mount Dora at 3:30 PM Sunday with Dr. Thomas Jamieson officiating. The final resting place will be Greenwood Cemetery, Eustis.
Reasons I love my dad.
-
When I was born he bought a set of encyclopedias so I could go to college. I always had books.
-
He said babies and cigarettes don’t go together so he gave up smoking for me.
-
He made me homemade stilts and taught me how to ride a bike. He would later teach me how to drive a car with a stick shift (while smiling).
-
He and Mom accepted Jesus as adults. After that, we were always in church. He was an usher, Deacon, Sunday School teacher, fill in pastor at Cassia, and had the gift of helping.
-
He had a soft spot in his heart for the person everyone else overlooked.
-
He honored his parents. When they needed help he moved us from Florida to Michigan so he could take care of them. I never remember hearing him complain.
-
We always had great vacations. We didn’t need radios or ipads because Dad would sing to us in the car. He was willing to get off the “beaten path” so I could get a dinosaur bone and rocks for my second grade class, or so I could see a house that was on the Underground Railroad. We always felt that God blessed our vacations.
-
He encouraged me to go back to college to have a better life. Once he flew to Birmingham just so I would not have to drive home alone.
-
He was married to my mom 55 years and took care of her as long as he could.
-
He was young at heart. He helped me with the AWANA Sparks (ages 5-8) and roller skated with them when he was 80. He walked in the George Fest parade dressed as a Colonial “Founding Father” when he was 86. He attended his high school’s alumni banquet 70 years after he graduated.
-
About 7 years ago he told me, “Connie, I am not afraid to die, and you have to be brave.”
Being as brave as I can, Connie
What’s your fondest memory of George?
What’s a lesson you learned from George?
Share a story where George's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with George you’ll never forget.
How did George make you smile?
