Robert Lewis CLEVELAND 1924-1992
Born March 26, 1924 in Bisbee, Cochise County, Arizona, the Fourth son of William Jasper and Helen Lucille Cohen Cleveland.
Robert (known by the family as Bob) grew up on the Oak Thicket Ranch near Bisbee, Arizona.
Bob was the youngest of five boys: George born in 1916, James born 1917, Calvin born 1919, Charles born 1920, and Robert. His younger brother Walter was born seven years later in 1931.
According to the 1930 Federal Census, the family was living in Bisbee, Cochise County, Arizona: William CLEVELAND age 50, Rancher; spouse Helen age 30, Children: George age 13, James age 12, Calvin age 11, Thomas age 9, Robert age 6.
In 1933, Bob's mother left the family, taking him and his younger brother Walter with her to her mother's house in Bisbee. (Read more about her story on the Helen Cohen page.)
The photo at left was taken about 1934, from left is Calvin, Bob, Grandmother (Cohen) Potter, and Charles, with Walter in front.
In June 1942, at age 18, Bob completed a WWII Registration card, listing his father as the person who would always know his address, and his employer as Phelps Dodge, Cole Shaft, Bisbee, AZ. 
He signed the card "Robert L. Cleveland". {WWII Registration Card}
On December 14, 1944 Robert L. received a certificate for completing the "Navy Training Course for Watertender Second Class with a mark of 3.64, and all required practical factors for Petty Officer Second class and for the rating of Watertender Second Class…” {WatertenderIIcert.jpg}
Bob spent the majority of his life in and around Bisbee, Arizona - working as a cowboy and a miner.
In 1946, Robert L Cleveland is listed in the city directory for Bisbee District as a miner for Phelps Dodge. The photo to the left shows Bob (far right) working at the mines.
Bob's' father moved to Yuma, AZ in 1946, and died about a year later.
Bob enjoyed competing in rodeos - this photo is of the 1959 Arizona State Champions AAA roping team, from left to right: Buck Buchanan, Larry Hill, Bob Cleveland, and Pito Black.
In 1959 Bob is listed in the Bisbee City Directory as a miner for PD Corp, living at 1008 Tombstone Canyon with wife Minnie.
The photo below shows Bob in action (on the horse at the left of the photo) at a 1963 roping competition.
Bob married and divorced three times, never having any children of his own. He learned to paint, and some of his paintings can be found hanging in businesses around Bisbee. In his later years he would write stories of his life, events he could remember, in spiral notebooks. As time permits, some of these stories will be typed and available here.
Bob Cleveland died February 29, 1992 at the age of 68 in Sierra Vista, Arizona. He is buried in Evergreen Cemetery, Bisbee, AZ.