Wilbur Lodewick Cleveland

Wilbur Lodewick Cleveland, 79, of Hallettsville, passed away peacefully on Friday, Nov.  29, 2024, at 6 p.m.  
He was born Nov. 6, 1945 in Ganado, the youngest child of Wilber and Pauline (nee Stover).
After graduating from Ganado High School in 1964, he attended Wharton Junior College and Kilgore Jewelry School where he became a certified jeweler for his mother’s jewelry store in downtown Ganado before marrying his high school sweetheart, Charlene.  He then moved to Houston where he worked as district manager for the Kmart jewelry department.
Wilbur, known by many as Lodey, was the owner and operator of Accurate Water located in Victoria for many years, starting in 1980, before moving the business to Hallettsville, which will continue to be run by Britt and Laura. 
In Hallettsville, he owned a 60-acre cattle ranch.  Prior to starting his own business, he farmed corn, rice, maize and soybeans in the Ganado area with his father-in-law, Charles.
Lodey was well loved and liked to laugh and enjoy life to the fullest. He had a passion for deep water fishing in the gulf. He was a jack of all trades and could do anything he put his mind to.  He was an early-to-rise kind of man and was an extremely hard worker.  He had an entrepreneurial spirit and lived life according to the laws of God.
Lodey is survived by his loving wife of 60 years, Charlene (nee Schluter) Cleveland; his three sons, Britt (Laura) Cleveland of Hallettsville;  Wade Cleveland of Vermont, and Chris Cleveland; grandson Darren of Edna;  his first granddaughter is to be born Feb. 28 to Britt and Laura; sister, Emma Kathleen (Kathy) Richardson of Dallas, and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews.
Lodey was preceded in death by his parents, Wilber and Pauline; his father-in-law and mother-in-law, Charles and Oleta Schluter of Ganado; his oldest sister, Omelia Cox of Marlin.
Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m., Friday, Dec. 6 at Kubena Funeral Home in Hallettsville. Viewing will begin at 12:30 p.m.
Burial will follow at Hallettsville City Cemetery.
Words of comfort may be shared with the family at www.kubenafuneralhome.com