HOWE —Earl Cleveland, Jr., age 94, died peacefully at home on the morning of Wednesday, April 27, 2016. He was born on September 17, 1921, near Topeka, IN to Earl L. and Katherine (Hodge) Cleveland. Earl married Phyllis Mae Gard on October 20, 1944, in Kendallville, IN. He then went to serve his country honorably in WWII and returned to Phyllis in 1946 to begin their lives together. She survives Earl in Howe. He worked as a farm hand for many different farms before settling in Howe in 1951. He worked at Silver Cup in LaGrange as well as the Howe Military School, where he worked as a custodian for 35 years. He loved the farm life and his family. He was also a member of the LaGrange American Legion Post 215. Earl will be remembered for saying "Don't be mean, be nice to people. Treat people how you want to be treated". Also surviving are three sons, Michael (Nancy) Cleveland of Greeley, Colorado; Phillip Cleveland of Convoy, Ohio; Thomas Cleveland of Pierceton, Indiana; and one daughter, Lori (Jeff) Leu of Howe, Indiana. Earl is also survived and loved by his 7 grandchildren, 8 great grandchildren, and 1 great-great grandchild. His parents and an infant brother preceded him in death. Visitation will be held on Thursday, May, 5 from 2-7pm at the Frurip-May Funeral Home, LaGrange. Funeral services will be held at the Lima Presbyterian Church, Howe, at 10 a.m. on Friday, May 6. The Pastor Ben Stuckey will officiate and burial will take place in Riverside Cemetery, Howe.The LaGrange American Legion Post 215 will conduct military rites. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be contributed to the Howe Military Academy, Attn: Scholarship Development, P.O. Box 240, Howe, IN 46746 Online condolences maybe sent to the family at www.fruripmayfuneralhome.com.