Harper County Obituary
High Point Cemetery

aka Buffalo

Loren Newton Cleveland

1 Dec 1924 - 21 Oct 2014

© WOODWARD NEWS
Sunday, October 26, 2014 7:34 am
Reprinted with permission
Submitted by: Ann Weber

Loren Newton Cleveland of Buffalo, Oklahoma passed from this life on October 21, 2014. He was born on December 1, 1924 at the family farm north of Selman, Oklahoma to Luther Nulton and Bertha May (Stebbins) Cleveland. He attended grade school at New Hope District #22 and graduated from Buffalo High School in 1942.

In February 1944, Loren enlisted in the US Army. He took his basic training at Camp Roberts in California. While there he volunteered for Airborne and attended his parachute training at Fort Benning Georgia. Loren was sent to England and was assigned to the 17th Airborne Division. He spent from December 1944 to February 1945 in the Battle of the Bulge in France and Belgium. On March 11, 1945, Loren’s chute collapsed during a practice jump and he fell about 60 feet. He was severely injured and spent the next eight months in the hospital; mostly at McCloskey General Hospital in Temple, Texas. On October 19, 1945, Loren was discharged from the military and returned to Buffalo.

Loren met Alma Modesta “Dessie” Criswell and the couple was married on June 5, 1948. Upon making their home in Buffalo, Loren ran for Harper County Treasurer and held that job for five years. He then went to work for the Post Office and held that job for five years.

On October 1, 1958, Loren purchased the Pioneer Insurance Agency from the late Thomas S. Cash and W. L. Horton. He owned and managed the insurance agency until his retirement in 1989. From 1970-1985, Loren and Dessie owned and operated the Cleveland Clothing Store.

Loren was a member of the American Legion for over 60 years and was very, very devoted to providing military honors at funerals in Laverne and Buffalo. He was a lifetime member of the V.F.W. and Disabled American Veterans. For 45 years, Loren was a member of the Buffalo Lions’ Club, holding all offices. He served as secretary and treasurer of the Golf Club for many years. He helped build the new airport and even earned his private pilot license. Loren helped build the Harper County Community Hospital and helped operate it by serving on the Board of Directors for 26 years. He was Chairman of the Salvation Army for Harper County. He was also instrumental in the improvement of the Buffalo Library and served on that Board of Directors for 25 years. Preceding Loren in death were his parents; an infant brother Lesley N.; and a sister Lois Mitchell and her husband Jack.

Loren is survived by his wife of 66 years Dessie; his daughters, Sue (Jimmie) Biedermann of Corpus Christi, TX and their daughter Amy and Alice (Terry) Zollinger of Buffalo, OK and their family, Lee, Sami and Brett Wilson and their children Taylor and Taylee, and Krista and Nick Nairn and their children Braxon, Jordyn and Jaxon; his sons, John (Denise) Cleveland of Hoover, Alabama and their family Sarah Cleveland Riley and Clint Harrison and daughters Aubrey and Emily, Brian Cleveland, Robert and Katrina Cleveland and daughters Emma and Abigail, and Michael Cleveland and Melissa Fincher and sons AJ, Jacob and Jonathan; Tom (Kristine) Cleveland of Edmond, OK and their children Hunter and Sydney and Robert (Michelle) Cleveland of Buffalo and their children Noel and Will.

A vigil will be held Friday, October 24, 2014 at 7:00 pm at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Buffalo. Services will be on Saturday, October 25, 2014 at 10:00 am at the Methodist Church of Buffalo. Interment will be at Highpoint Cemetery of Buffalo with military honors provided by the American Legion Post 273. Arrangements were entrusted to the Myatt-Buffalo Funeral Home. Online condolences may be offered at www.schillingfhg.com.

Memorials made in Loren’s name may be made to the Laverne American Legion Post 273, c/o Melva McDaniel, P.O. Box 715, Laverne, OK 73848 or a charity of your choice.