Cleland was born in Cadiz, KY on January 10, 1936. He graduated from Trigg County High School in 1954 and received a BS in Agriculture and an MS in Agricultural Economics in 1958 and 1960, respectively. He worked on post-graduate education in Economics at the University of Chicago. Cleland then went on to serve in active duty in the U.S. Army for 2 years and spent 32 years in the U.S. Army Reserves, retiring in 1991 at the rank of Colonel. He owned and operated a retail building material business, W.C. White Lumber Co., Inc., in Cadiz for 26 years.
In 1988 he began working for Kentucky’s Department of Military Affairs in Frankfort, KY. Cleland retired in 2001 as Director of Bluegrass Station Division, located at the former Lexington Blue Grass Army Depot in Avon, KY. He was a past state president of Department of Kentucky Reserve Officers Association and the Kentucky Retail Building Material Dealers Association. Cleland also served on the UK Alumni Association National Board of Directors for 12 years: 6 representing District 1, which includes Trigg County, and 6 representing District 6, which includes Frankfort and Franklin County. He was a past president and board member of Trigg County and Franklin County UK Alumni Clubs, a UK Fellow, and life member of the UK Alumni Association.
Cleland was a Charter member and past president of the Cadiz Rotary Club to which he belonged to for 25 years, Paul Harris Fellow, life member of UK College of Agriculture Alumni, and board member of Fort Harrod Area UK AG/HES Alumni Association. He was also a member of Friends of Paul Sawyier Public Library, Frankfort, and Janice Mason Art Museum, Cadiz. He served as a past Finance Chair and Chairman of the Permanent Endowment Committee of the Franklin First United Methodist Church, and a member of the Board of Directors, and member of the Investment Committee of the United Methodist Foundation. Cleland was a past president and secretary of Frankfort District United Methodist Men, and a past member of the Trigg County Board of Education. He served as a past member and vice-chairman of the Trigg County Hospital Board, past president of the Cadiz/Trigg County Chamber of Commerce, and a member of the Trigg County Historical Society.
Cleland is survived by his four children, William “Bill” C. White IV, Crystal White Higgins, Stuart D. White, C. Paul White; 14 grandchildren, Laken White, Karoline White, Harrison White, Chandler White, Neely Hatch, Reagan White, Samantha White, Remi White, Clare White, Porter White, Eleanor White, Ireland Wadlington, Ashton Cain, Miranda McKinney; 10 great grandchildren, Phoenix McKinney, Asher McKinney, John Arthur Hatch, Amelia Hatch, Foster Cain, Porter Cain, Talan Wadlington, Ryder Wadlington, Sawyer Wadlington, Gideon Wadlington; and one brother, Robert “Bob” Wadlington White. He is preceded in death by his parents, W. Cleland White II and Martha Wadlington White; his wife, Joan B. White; one son, Porter Glenn White; and two sisters, Terry McClain and Martha Davis.
Honorary Pallbearers in Frankfort, Chapel Class Sunday School members, Scott Barker, Joe Meyer, Roger Solheim, Nelson Hix, Larry Taylor, Larry Epley, John Heltzel, Jim Burris, Joe Wilkins, Jimmy Rogers, Porter White, Harrison White. Honorary Pallbearers in Cadiz, David Shore, Curtis Higgins, Justin Cain, Kent McKinney, Karen Allen, Gayle Clayton.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations should be directed to First United Methodist Church Endowment Fund and/or Trigg County Historical Society P.O. Box 1008 Cadiz, KY 42211
