Cleve Arden Bond was born Jan. 25, 1930, to Lawrence Bond and Leatrice Breashears Bond. He grew up in Bismarck, Ark., and graduated from Bismarck High School in 1948. He joined the U.S. Air Force in 1951, serving in Germany, England and finishing his service at Tinker Air Force Base in Midwest City, in Oklahoma in 1955. Using the GI Bill to attend college at Southern State College in Magnolia, Ark., starting 1958, transferring to The University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, Ark., in 1959, and graduating 1961 with his Electrical Engineering Degree.
He started working for International Paper Company in Moss Point, Miss., in 1961, then to Hover Die casting in Malvern, Ark., in 1968. In 1974, he went to work for General Cable in Hot Springs, Ark., then to Anthony Timberlands in Bearden, Ark., in 1976, until he retired in 1992. Where he started his own company in 1992, GEM Inc., with his son Bryan, where they closed the company in 1998.
He was a member of Charity Heights Baptist Church in Hot Spring, Ark.
Cleve is survived by his son, Bryan Bond, daughter-in-law Gwen; grandsons, Bradley and Justyn and granddaughter, Brittany and her husband Justin Pulley, they had his only great-grandson, Carter. He is also survived by his brothers, A.J. Bond his wife Lavern, Paul Bond and wife Pat and his sister, Velzene Burroughs.
Cleve was preceded in death by his parents, his sister, Clarice McClard, and his companion, Juanita Bishop.
Visitation will be at Ruggles-Wilcox Funeral Home, 517 Clay St., Arkadelphia, AR 71923 starting at 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, April 9, 2021.
Graveside service will be at DeRoche Cemetery at 2:30 p.m. April 10, 2021. http://www.ruggleswilcox.com.