Charles James Cleveland

Son of Wilbur Jesse & Edna Cleveland, they moved to El Cajon, California during the Great Depression sometime in the early 1930's. They followed my great uncle Irving and Mildred Cleveland who had previously moved and settled in the El Cajon Valley area. Chuck grew up in El Cajon Valley and graduated from Grossmont High School around 1947.

Chuck entered the US Navy 9/1948 and was listed as ABAN WWII & KO Patrol Squadron 9. I remember a story he told us as children about that time in the Navy. He was stationed in Kodiak, Alaska and would often volunteer to fly with his air/crew on missions sometimes over the Aleutian Islands. One time, since it was voluntary, he changed his mind and said he couldn't make it on the flight. Turns out that on that mission, the aircraft went down and was never heard from again, all lives were lost. Dad met our mom, Dulcie Marilyn Jefferson while stationed in Seattle, Washington sometime during his enlistment.

Discharged 9/1951, they were soon married and moved back to El Cajon, California. In 1957, they bought their home at 6297 Anvil Lake Avenue in San Diego.

One of Dad's first jobs out of the Navy was a delivery truck driver for Central Meat Company downtown San Diego.

I remember on days that Mom needed the car, she would pile Karen and I into the back with our P.J.'s and blankets and take Dad to work. He would sometimes catch a ride home from a co-worker, Dennis Sanchez, or Mom would pick him up.

One of the meat cutters at Central Meat Co was JB Perkins, who suggested that dad apply for an opening as a apprentice meat cutter. He did apply and so began his career as a retail Meat Cutter (Butcher). He worked at various grocery stores around the San Diego area until retiring in 1990.

Dad's cup in life was always half full. Mom & Dad started bicycle riding in the 1970's, first starting out with 5 speeds, then 10-12-18 speed road bikes & tandems, Bicycle trips soon became a way of life for them, and they would often fly up to San Francisco or Seattle with friends Jack & Barbara Kuntz, and ride down the coastal highway back home.

Loving the outdoors, they started camping with their friends and neighbors the Bush's & Kuntz's. They soon worked their way up the ladder of motorhomes, traveling in the southwest and up to Clear Lake in the Sierra Nevada's. While looking at pictures recently, I remember a Colorado River Trip they took through the Grand Canyon with a group of people, camping along the river and rafting.

They had the swimming pool built in 1968, and more than 50 years later kids, grandkids, and great grandkids have enjoyed swimming in their backyard pool.

Bicycling and camping were just the beginning for them, as during this time that also started jogging, running, sailing Hobie Cats, windsurfing, and rollerblading. All of these activities became a way of life for them. It is apparent that they were a true inspiration for all those around, touching many lives.

You can't write about Dad without mentioning Guacamole, Salsa & Chips, and Mexican Food. They would frequently travel down into Mexico and camp in San Felipe at Club De Pesca in their motorhome with friends

Needless to say, Dad was an inspiration to many and is surely missed by us all.

He picked this spot on Pt. Loma to memorialize both our Mom & him for generations to come.