CORTLAND - Richard Allen "Dick" Cleal, 67, died Friday morning Aug. 10, 2012, at his home.
He was born June 17, 1945, in Warren, the son of the late Howard Frederick and Mildred Irene Difford Cleal.
Dick was a 1963 graduate of Howland High School and attended Kent State University, following his service in the U.S. Marine Corps.
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Richard A. Cleal
He served four years in the United States Marine Corps in the Vietnam War, serving in Vietnam for 13 months as a sergeant Ontos crewman/tank commander. He was wounded and received the Purple Heart, the Presidential Unit Citation, the Vietnam Service and Campaign Medals and the Sharpshooter and M-14 rifle badges.
Dick retired from his consulting business, Cleal and Associates. He had also worked for the TAMPEEL environmental land lab as an instructor and driver, serving all the Trumbull County schools.
He was an active member of Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in Cortland.
Dick was past president of Cortland Rotary Club, most recently this past year, where he served as youth exchange chairman and received the Paul Harris Fellowship Award. He was also active with committees for the City of Cortland.
Dick enjoyed military history, especially the Civil War era and vintage automobiles, including his yellow 1975 Cadillac Eldorado convertible.
Dick is survived by his wife, Carol Jean Swinehart Cleal, whom he married July 22, 1967; two sons who followed in their Dad's footsteps in the Marine Corps both serving in Operation Desert Storm, Thomas Allen (Amy) Cleal of Rio Rancho, N.M., and Dr. Craig Duane (fiancee, Tonya Antill) Cleal of Howland; six grandchildren, Matthew Allen, Jessica Hope, Kate Abigail, Evungelena Lucia, Zane Grey and Tatiana Rose; one sister, Noralee (Frank) Bower of Cortland; two brothers, Timothy Cleal of Cortland and Gordon (RaeAnne) Cleal of North Jackson; and one sister-in-law, Sharon Cleal of Cortland.
One brother, William Cleal, preceded him in death.
The family will receive friends from 5 to 8 p.m. Monday at Lane Family Funeral Homes, Shafer-Winans Chapel in Cortland. Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. Tuesday at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in Cortland with Pastors Michelle Nickodemus and Duane Jesse officiating.
Military honors will be accorded at the church following the service.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Prince of Of Peace Endowment Fund, 490 North High St., Cortland OH 44410, or to the Rotary Foundation, c/o the Cortland Rotary Club.
Friends and family may send condolences and view the obituary at www.shaferwinanschapel.com.
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