Wallace Cleland

Wallace Brown Cleland

Wallace B. Cleland, age 86, of San Francisco, California, passed on peacefully in his sleep at home on September 15, 2013. He was born on April 29, 1927 to John Scott Cleland and Margaret Hardy Brown, in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania.

Within three months of his birth the family moved to Monmouth Illinois where his father was accepted in the position of Dean of Monmouth College. The Cleland family had an established connection with the town and college.

Wally and his two older brothers grew up across the street from the Monmouth College campus and attended Monmouth public schools. Their mother died in 1936 when Wally was 8 years old. Five years later his father remarried Eva Hanna Cleland, a Monmouth College professor of English who became Wally's beloved stepmother throughout his adult life.

At age 17 Wally enlisted in the Navy as the war was winding down. At age 18 Wally was assigned active duty as a Petty Officer 3rd Class. In 1946 Wally was released from service and returned to Monmouth College with the aid of his G.I. Bill. Wally was able to transfer to the University of Illinois. His desire to become an architect was a wish filled and became his long term passion. In 1951 Wally graduated and moved to Detroit and worked to complete the requirements for an architectural license and registration. After arriving in Detroit, Wally reconnected with a young woman he had known from Monmouth College, Virginia Streeter. They married in 1956 and settled in Pleasant Ridge, north of Detroit. Their daughter Kendra arrived in 1959 and son Douglas in 1960.

Wally was instrumental in the design and advancement in the growth and production of public schools. He was selected by Education Facilities Laboratories to promote production in public schools. A summary of Wally's work was published by the Ford Foundation in a report titled, "New Tactics for Building."

Wally and Virginia relocated to San Francisco in 1985. Wally continued to work in both the private and public sectors. They both had attended the First Unitarian Church of Detroit and became committed members of the First Unitarian Church of San Francisco. Both Wally and Virginia were champions of Civil Rights causes and members of the ACLU for 55 years with particular interest in the Americans United for Separation of Church and State.

Wally is proceeded in death by his wife Virginia Streeter Cleland, father Dr. John Scott Cleland, mother Margaret Hardy Brown Cleland, step-mother Eva Hanna Cleland, brothers Robert and John Cleland, and nephew, Scott Cleland.

Wally is survived by his daughter Kendra Cleland Muir and Chaun Muir of Ojai California, son Douglas Cleland and wife Pamela of Modesto California, niece Janet Cleland and husband Jim Grove of San Anselmo California. His niece Margaret, Nancy and nephew Richard Cleland. Sister-in-law Lynn Cleland. Five grandchildren Leda Muir of Ojai California, Jason Howard and wife Sadie of Shandon California, Samantha Hanley and husband John of Modesto California, Alexis Vargas and husband Mario of Modesto California, Devin Davenport of Petoskey Michigan. Five great grandchildren, Ashley and Jacob Hanley, Thomas and Saige Howard, and Calvin Vargas.

The family would like to thank the team at Sutter Hospice for all their loving care and commitment to Wally during this past year.

There will be a memorial gathering at the First Unitarian Church in San Francisco on October 27, 2013 from 12:30 - 2:30. The family will gather at a private interment service in the Midwest April 29, 2014 at the New Windsor Cemetery where several generations of the Streeter family members and Wally's wife have been interned.

W2LT}p>In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Sutter Care at Home Organization, in memory of Wallace B. Cleland.

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