graduated from Fallston High School. John enlisted in the Army in 1942, and while serving as a military policeman, John participated in the capture of the German spy, Ludwig. He was a Cleveland County farmer and lifelong member of New Prospect Baptist Church, where he served as a deacon, trustee, and Sunday school teacher. John had a passion for his church and community.

John was very active in the Republican Party and received the Lifetime Achievement Award of Cleveland County in 2005. He was inducted into the North Carolina Republican Party Hall of Fame in 1997. One of the greatest honors was a meeting with Ronald Reagan in the Oval Office of the White House. In 2003, John received the Cleveland County Zenith Award for Lifetime Achievement.

He was a member of the Cleveland County Sanitary District for 18 years and had been chairman for 12 years. John paved the way for a potential reservoir to be built in Upper Cleveland County. John received numerous presidential appointments to the Agriculture and Stabilization and Conservation Committee for 23 years, served on the State Agriculture and Stabilization and Conservation Committee for eight years, received the Administrator’s Award for the highest recognition given by the U. S. Department of Agriculture for group achievement, served on the N. C. State University Agriculture Foundation Board of Directors, Cleveland County Extension Service Advisory Council, Cleveland County Farm Bureau Board of Directors, charter member of the National Association of Farmer Elected Committee, member of Fellowship of Christian Farmers International, member of Veterans of Foreign Wars, and member of North Lake Country Club, where he served on the board of directors.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Lillian Self Cline; parents, David Mills Cline Sr. and Hester Cabaniss Cline; and sisters, Eloise Cline Douglas, Margaret Cline Arledge and Mary Cline Shaw.

Mr. Cline is survived by a son, John William Cline Jr. and his wife, Martha, of Wilmington; a brother, David Mills Cline Jr. of Shelby; grandsons, John William Cline III and Stacy McDonald Cline; and many loving nieces, nephews and extended family and friends.

Visitation: The family will receive friends tonight from 5:30 to 8 at Cecil M. Burton Funeral Home.

Funeral: Thursday at 11 a.m. at New Prospect Baptist Church

Burial: New Prospect Baptist Church Cemetery

Officiated by: The Revs. Tim Tapp and Michael Gantt

Memorials: New Prospect Baptist Church Building Fund, 1960 New Prospect Church Road, Shelby, NC 28150

Funeral home: Cecil M. Burton Funeral Home

Online condolences: 

www.cecilmburtonfuneralhome.com