Charles O. Fleming

Charles O. "Bill" Fleming
May 01, 1922 - May 16, 2005
Wellman, Iowa
Visitation: 6-8 p.m. May 20, 2005 at Powell Funeral Home, Wellman
Funeral Service: 11:00 a.m. May 21, 2005 at United Christian and Baptist Church, Kalona
Charles Owen "Bill" Fleming was born May 1, 1922 in Morgantown, West Virginia, the son of Forest D. and Sylvia (Owens) Fleming. Bill graduated from Morgantown High School in 1940 and received a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Colorado in 1948. While serving in the United States Army in Alaska during WW II Bill played Big Band music in an Army band "entertaining the troops" . It was there that he met Ruth Ellen Niles, a missionary teacher from North Dakota. They were united in marriage April 15, 1944 and celebrated their 50th anniversary in 1994. During his working years Bill was a Licensed Engineer in the portland cement industry with several companies in various states, ending his career as Vice President of Engineering for Gifford Hill Cement Co., Midlothian, Texas. Following retirement Bill opened a home-based musical instrument repair business specializing in band instruments for local students. Returning to an earlier love, he played sax, clarinet and flute in Big Bands in the Dallas, TX area and also presented "one man band" programs in various nursing homes and other venues. Bill was a Ham Radio operator [WA5UJA] until computers arrived on the scene. He then became a self-taught computer "guru" who proved to be a big help to many friends and neighbors who turned to him for assistance. Bill was also an active member of the Midlothian Lions club. As a family man Bill was involved in church activities and Boy Scouts; he enjoyed swimming, camping and vacationing all over the USA. Shortly after Ruth's death in 2000 Bill met Rosalie Poquette at their 60th high school class reunion; they married October 27, 2000. Bill died May 16, 2005 at Parkview Manor, Wellman, Iowa after a brief illness at the age of 83. Bill was preceded in death by his parents, his brother Robert, his first wife Ruth and his second wife Rosalie. He is survived by his children, Beverly (Fleming) Benner and husband Ed of Tiskilwa, Illinois and Tom and Kay Fleming of Wellman; grandchildren and spouses Adam and Megan Fleming and Bethany and Steve Keener all of Goshen, Indiana, Aaron and Melissa Fleming of Wellman, Chris and Katie Benner of Elkhart, Indiana; four great-grandchildren; a sister, Nellie Leedy, of Roanoke, Virginia and a number of nieces and nephews. Memorials may be sent to the Midlothian Lions Club, c/o Robert Himmel, 3610 Willow Creek Dr., Midlothian, Texas 76065.