Obituary of William Richard VanCleve

. William Richard "Rick" VanCleve went home to be with the Lord on February 17, 2015. Rick was born in Middletown, Ohio on 2/18/1944 to Jimmy B and Ura Agnes VanCleve. Rick is survived by his devoted wife of 27 years, Carol Polk VanCleve. He will miss his children Richard and Jason of California and Christy of Sylva, NC. He is survived by his step mother Gaynell VanCleve of Kentucky and stepsister Kim VanCleve Martin (Jerry) of Virginia. His companion Lab, Luke, misses him terribly, as well as many family and friends all over the USA from Alaska to Georgia. Special memories with Uncle Billy and Aunt Tina Franklin will never be forgotten. Rick went to Cincinnati Technical College and was an electrician. He retired from General Motors in Dayton, Ohio in 1986. Rick served in the USMC during the Vietnam War. He loved his country and was a real patriarch. After retirement Rick and Carol built their dream home in the mountains of North Carolina. He loved the outdoors and wood working and all things associated with nature. In his younger years he coached baseball and softball and then enjoyed many WCU baseball games here in N.C. Rick was a devoted member of Victory Baptist Church on Cowee Mountain, he loved the Lord . A tractor accident in 2005 left Rick paralyzed on his right side. Rick had a very special caregiver, Lisa Newton. She and her family will always be close to our heart. The funeral will be held 3:00 pm on Sunday, February 22 at Victory Baptist Church, with Rev. Rusty Wolfrey and Rev. Benny Bagwell officiating. Burial will be in Victory Baptist Church Cemetery, Sylva on Sunday, February 22. The family will receive friends on Sunday, February 22 from 2:00 PM until 3:00 PM at Victory Baptist Church. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Wounded Warriors Project, PO Box 758517, Topeka, Kansas, 66675 or to Victory Baptist Church, 278 Victory Baptist Church Road, Sylva, NC 28779.»(Do not delete this line. It does not print. Text that is to appear on web must be entered before this line)