William Franklin Fleming

William Franklin

Fleming

William Franklin Fleming, educator, historian, outdoorsman, loving husband and father, died on February 18th, his 75th birthday.

Born in 1933 in Western Pennsylvania, Mr. Fleming grew up in McClellantown, Pa. After graduating from high school he attended the College of Wooster in Wooster, Ohio earning his Bachelor of Arts degree in 1955. After graduation he entered the military and served with the U.S. Army in Germany. Mr. Fleming was a life-long educator, having taught history and english for the Barberton City Schools for nearly 30 years. While teaching, he did graduate work at the University of West Virginia at Morgantown and Case Western Reserve University, earning a PhD. in history in 1977. During his graduate studies he authored a book published in 1981 titled America's Match King: Ohio Columbus Barber 1841-1920. Reviewed by Harvard University's Business History Review, Mr. Fleming's book was well received and represents an important work about a person who, along with others of his generation, helped forge America's world economic leadership. An avid outdoorsman, Mr. Fleming enjoyed riding his horses and training hunting dogs. Following his retirement as a teacher, he worked for the U.S. Park Service as a park ranger. He will always be remembered for his quick humor and unusual insights, borne of his inquiring mind and constant reading on a wide range of subjects, especially history and current events. In a world of narrow specialists, the range of his expertise and experience was truly unique.

He was the son of J. Calvin Fleming, an astronomy and physics professor, and Eugenia Loucks both deceased. He was married to the late, Betsy Fleming, a chemist, for more than 40 years. They were the proud parents of two children, Martha (Bill) Caldwell, who works for Ernst & Young LLP in Cleveland, and John Fleming, a professor of mathematics at Duquesne University in Pittsburgh.

A memorial service will be Saturday, February 23, 2008 at 2 p.m. at the Emanuel United Church of Christ, 16 Eastern Rd., Doylestown with Pastor Jeff Nelson officiating. Family will receive friends one hour prior to the service at the church. (COX, BARBERTON 330-745-3311)