Robert W Fleming

Robert Woodrow (Bob) Fleming, a resident of the Park Springs Retirement Community in Stone Mountain, Ga, passed away on June 27, 2017. Born January 20, 1939, in Canton, NC, Bob was the son of Woodrow Fleming of Abbeville, Al and Pearl Martha Chason of Cairo, GA. Bob is survived by his wife of 37 years, Linda Floyd Fleming; daughter, Stacey Anne Pro of Clayton, NC; son, Gregory Fleming of Hollywood, FL; grandchildren Erin, Kyle, and Ryan; and sister, Frances Ann Pearson of Warminster, England. Bob was raised in the Bethel Community of Canton, NC, and remembers riding the work bus with his father into town to attend high school in Canton. For his outstanding citizenship and academic performance in high school, he was awarded an honor scholarship to attend Rollins College in Winter Park, FL. While at Rollins, Bob was elected President of the Student Council, Chairman of the Chapel Committee, and received the Algernon Sydney Sullivan Award in 1961. Upon graduation from Rollins, Bob attended Officer Candidate School prior to accepting a commission into the United States Naval Reserve. He served three years of active duty, including two tours to the Mediterranean and Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. During his active duty Bob served on the USS Diamond Head AE-19. He continued his military career for 17 years as a reservist in a number of roles, and achieved the rank of Commander in the United States Naval Reserve. Following his military service; Bob joined the Management and Development Program of Southern Bell, where he had a long and successful career. Following training in the Charlotte office in 1964, he was assigned to the Greensboro office, returned to the Charlotte office where he worked in Public Relations, and eventually became manager in Gastonia. Bob moved into Southern Bell's Regulatory Department in 1978. He was promoted to District Manager in Asheville, NC, where he was responsible for Southern Bell's business office and public relations for Western North Carolina from 1979-1983. During his management career, Bob was always deeply involved in civic and charitable work with Junior Achievement, Civitan Club, and United Way. While living in Asheville, Bob lead a successful United Way campaign where their financial goal was achieved, despite a downturn in the economy. With the breakup of the Bell system, Bob was transferred to Atlanta in 1983 where he supervised the preparation of tariffs, testifying as a technical witness before the Utilities Commission. He retired in 1994 after 30 years' service with the phone company. But even though "retired," Bob did not stop working. He later returned to Bellsouth for five years as a contractor in the Regulatory Department. Bob's retirement years included several adventurous RV trips around the country with Linda in their "Campervan," including Alaska, Nova Scotia, and other parts of Canada. They enjoyed the RV life for nine years, logging over 93,000 miles in the Campervan. Bob and Linda also enjoyed a wonderful RV adventure during their New Zealand trip. In addition to his other talents, Bob enjoyed music. His fascination with the organ began while he was a student at Rollins College. He was also fond of bluegrass music, and especially the banjo. For more than 30 years, he sang in a number of choirs, adding his melodious bass voice to the Chancel Choir at Decatur First United Methodist Church, the Park Springs Chorus and Park Springs Mellowtones. A memorial service for Bob will be held 2:00 PM Saturday, July 9 at Decatur First United Methodist Church, Decatur, GA. His ashes will be interred in Fair Bluff, NC. Memorial in Bob's honor may be made to the American Parkinson's Disease Association (Atlanta Chapter) or to Decatur First United Methodist Church, Decatur. A. S. Turner and Sons Funeral Home, Decatur, GA.

A graveside memorial service with military honors will be held Friday, April 5, 2024 at 1 PM in the Powell Cemetery, Fair Bluff, NC.

A service of Meares & Jones Funeral Service of Fair Bluff.

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