Thomas Cleland

Thomas Gilmour Cleland, 66, died of pancreatic cancer at his home in Spotsylvania, Virginia on Friday, August 22nd. Mr. Cleland, the son of Thomas and Julia Cleland, was born in South Glens Falls, New York in 1942. He worked for Steelcase, Inc. for 23 years, retiring as a Senior Vice President in 1997. Mr. Cleland served in the Marine Corps and was the Commander of the New York Guard, retiring in 2004 as a Major General. He served one year as Director of the New York National Guard Challenge Program, a residential program for at-risk youth. Mr. Cleland and his wife Janice spent 23 years in Westchester County, New York, and moved to Spotsylvania in 2005. His volunteer activities included work with the National Park Service, the Fredericksburg Regional Museum, and the Presbyterian Church Food Pantry. He served as Board Chairman of the National Civil War Life Museum Foundation, and was a Board Member of the Friends of the Wilderness Battlefield, and a member of the Civil War Round Table of Fredericksburg and the Rappahannock Valley Civil War Round Table. He is survived by Janice, his wife of 41 years; daughter Kimberly and her husband Martial and son Xavier; daughter Kelly and her husband Charles and daughter Zoe; sister Patricia Cleland-Blinn; nephews Jonathan Blinn and Timothy Blinn and niece Julie Metzger; and beloved Black Lab Mac. The Cleland family would like to thank friends and neighbors for their kindness and generosity during this difficult time. They are especially grateful to Mary Washington Hospice for the exceptional and compassionate care that they provided to Tom. A memorial service will be held at The Presbyterian Church in Fredericksburg, Virginia on Friday, August 29th at 3 pm. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to: Mary Washington Hospice; 2600 Mary Washington Blvd. Fredericksburg, VA 22401; The Presbyterian Church; 810 Princess Anne St.; Fredericksburg, VA 22401; or The National Civil War Life Foundation; 4712 Southpoint Parkway Fredericksburg, VA 22407. Condolences may be expressed to the family online at www.foundandsons.com.

Thomas Cleland

March 9, 1942 - August 22, 2008