Bea Cleveland

CLEVELAND Bea (Beatrice J) Cleveland, age 91, passed away February 14, 2012 in Columbus, OH. Bea received degrees from The Ohio State University and The University of Wisconsin. During her professional career she served three years as Vocational Home Economics teacher at Walnut Township School, Pickaway County, seven years as Home Economics Extension Agent in Madison County and twenty-five years as a member of the Ohio 4-H Staff at The Ohio State University. Bea devoted most of her life to working with people, especially boys, girls and young people. She sincerely believed every individual has the right to grow and develop to the fullest of his or her potential and dial all in her power to see that each person whose life she touched had that opportunity. She loved life and deeply cherished the friends she had at home and around the world. During her retirement years, she participated in and strongly supported organizations and groups connected with Ohio 4-H, the Ohio International Four-H Youth Exchange Program (IFYE), the Ascension Lutheran Church, the OSU College of Human Ecology, The Ohio State University and the Westminster-Thurber Community. She was inducted into the Ohio 4-H Hall of Fame, Ohio Women's Hall of Fame, Ohio State Fair and Ohio Agricultural Hall of Fame, National 4-H Hall of Fame, OSU College of Human Ecology Diamond University Award and received the Everett D. Reese Medal of Philanthropy (Ohio State University's highest recognition awarded to fund-raising volunteers), and was honored with the Bea Cleveland Board Room in the Nationwide and Ohio Farm Bureau 4-H Center on The Ohio State University campus. Bea was preceded in death by her parents, Carrie and Frank Cleveland, her brothers Charles and Eugene. She is survived by her sister-in-law, Dorothy Cleveland of Memphis, Tennessee; nieces and nephews Anita, James, Jimmy, Amy and Lori Mobrak of Germantown, Tennessee; other relatives and a host of caring friends. A memorial service will be held for her at the Ascension Lutheran Church, 1479 Morse Rd., Columbus, OH on March 11, 2012 at 2:30 p.m. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be given to The OSU Foundation for the Ohio 4-H Center Fund, Account #481955, 1480 W. Lane Ave., Columbus, OH 43220, the Memorial Endowment Fund of Ascension Lutheran Church, 1479 Morse Rd., Columbus, OH 43229, the Mabel Sarbaugh--Bea Cleveland Life Care Memorial Endowment of the Westminster Thurber Community, 645 Neil Ave., Columbus, OH 43215. Arrangements are being handled by WEIR AREND FUNERAL HOME, 4221 N. High Street, Columbus, OH 43214; phone 614-268-3593.