William Fleckenstein

William O. Fleckenstein, 91, of Bethlehem, died peacefully on March 9, 2017 at Moravian Village Health Center, Bethlehem. He was the beloved husband of the late Jeanne H. Fleckenstein, his high school sweetheart.They were married 67 years. Born in Scranton, PA, Bill was the son of the late August and Helen (Dippre) Fleckenstein. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy during World War II and served in the Pacific theater on the USS St. Paul. He graduated from Keystone College and Lehigh University, where he won the Dupont Prize as the highest ranking senior in Electrical Engineering. Bill spent most of his career at Bell Telephone Laboratories, where he was Vice President of Switching Systems. He was a leader in moving the Bell System telecommunications network to a fully electronic switching, digital switching, common channel signaling and automated operator services. He was elected a Fellow of the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers in 1971. He retired from Bell System in 1986 and served as a telecommunications consultant for Siemens Corporation. Bill was an active Lehigh alumnus, and served as a university trustee for many years. He was also an avid golfer and fisherman. Bill was a member of Moscow Lodge 501 Free & Accepted Masons and the First Presbyterian Church of Bethlehem. Survivors: Bill will be lovingly remembered by his daughter, Anne Pistell, and son-in-law David Kozak of North Haven, CT; his son-in-law Christopher Teasdale of Califon, NJ; his grandchildren, Brad Teasdale of Garrison, NY; Lauren Pistell of Liverpool, NY; and Colin Pistell of Boulder, CO; great-grandchildren, Elijah McDonald and Eve McDonald both of Liverpool, NY; Ayla Teasdale and Ander Teasdale both of Garrison, NY. Bill was preceded in death by his wife, Jeanne in 2015, and his daughter, Lynn Fleckenstein Teasdale in 1984. Services: A Memorial Service will be held on Monday, March 20th at 11:00 A.M., in the sanctuary of First Presbyterian Church of Bethlehem, 2344 Center St. Bethlehem, where relatives and friends will be received from 10:30 A.M. until time of service. Offer condolences online at www.jamesfuneralhome.org. Arrangements entrusted to JAMES FUNERAL HOME, Bethlehem. Contributions: In lieu of flowers, contributions may be sent in Bill's memory to the William O. Fleckenstein Scholarship Fund at the Institutional Advancement Office, Keystone College, One College Green, P.O. Box 50, La Plune, PA 18440-0200