SALISBURY — James R. Cleveland, Master Sergeant, U.S. Air Force (Retired), 78, of Salisbury, passed away on Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2009, at Coastal Hospice At the Lake, Salisbury.

Born Aug. 11, 1931, in Westernport, James was the son of the late Olen Cleveland and Dorothy (Brown) Cleveland Ray. He was also preceded in death by his sisters, Barbara Weekly and Yvette Durham; and four brothers, Richard, Boyd, and Donald Cleveland and Paul Ray.

Serving during the Korean War and Vietnam timeframe, James retired in 1969, culminating 22 years of continuous active duty service in the United States Air Force. He later worked in the insurance business in California, and property management in the Metro DC area, and Ocean City, retiring again in 1993.

Surviving James are his wife of 24 years, Nancy C. Cleveland; her son, Robert VanDornick of Ocean Pines; and her daughters, Nicole Smith and husband Matt of Salisbury, and Tricia Brummer and husband David of Cud Joe Key, Fla.; grandchildren, Matthew, An-drew, Caroline, Catherine, John, Joshua and Thomas Smith, Matthew and Rachel Brummer, and Ava, Jude and Dane VanDornick. Also surviving James is former spouse, Sheila P. Cleveland of Keyser, W.Va., and their sons, James R. Cleveland Jr. of Annapolis, and Stephen Cleveland of Fishers, Ind.; daughters, Susan Fairall and husband Mark of LaVale, and Wendy Sherbs and husband David of London, England; and grandchildren, Adrian Donnelly, Beth and Joseph Fairall, Janice Daugherty, Courtney Cleveland, David Sherbs Jr., Joshua, Jacob and Kimberly Cleveland; and great-grandchildren, Gracie Ro-truck, Liam Fairall and Jace Daugherty. James is also survived by brothers, Robert Cleveland of Westernport, Ronald Cleveland of Salmon, Idaho, and Russell Ray of Harrington, Del.; and sisters, Sharon Mayles of Westernport, and Olivia Powers of Burke, Va.

A memorial service was held at 4 p.m. Friday, Sept. 18, 2009, at Providence Presbyterian Church on Parker Road, Salisbury, with Pastor Jason Shelton officiating.

At a later date, interment will be at Maryland State VA Cemetery Eastern Shore, Hurlock.

Memorial contributions may be sent to the Huntington Disease Society of America, 158 W. 29th St., 7th Floor, New York, NY 10001-5300 or Coastal Hospice At The Lake, PO Box 1733, Salisbury, MD 21802-1733.