Rev. John R. Fleming, 81, of Lancaster, PA went home to be with his Lord on Friday, April 29, 2011, after a massive heart attack.

Pastor Fleming was born in Lancaster, PA on July 4, 1929. He was the son of the late John R. Fleming Sr. and the late Bessie McMinn Fleming Eves. He was also preceded in death by his only sibling Jacquelyn Fleming Myers.

He was the devoted loving husband of Margaret F. (Lawson) Fleming with whom he shared almost 63 years of marriage. They were married May 26, 1948. In addition to his wife he will be sorely missed by his six children: Sharon Wissler of Basalt, Co., Ron Fleming, husband of Karen of Lancaster, Daryl Fleming, husband of Jo of Pequea, Judy, wife of Donald Fisher of Washington Boro, Blenda Rice of Millersville, and Bruce Fleming, husband of Brenda of Mount Joy. Eighteen grandchildren: Jaime Plank, Jennifer Harmon, Chris Judy, Jessica Bowers, Joanna Fleming, Julia Barr, Tereza Werner, Kelly Metzler, Jeremy Metzler, Lisa Metzler, Kirstin Smith, Andy Smith, Don Fisher, Jim Fisher, Jody Beasley, Brianna Rice, Alexandra Fleming and John Fleming, thirty great grandchildren and one great great granddaughter. He loved his big family and he made each and every child feel very special.

He graduated from Stevens Trade School as an electrician and immediately enlisted in the US Navy. While serving in the Navy from June 1947 until May 1950, he met his wife, Margaret, in Memphis, TN.  They had a whirlwind courtship and married after only eleven weeks. Their Christian marriage lasted almost 63 years.  He worked at RCA from 1953 until 1970 as an electrician. He was known as John the Baptist to everyone at RCA-never missing an opportunity to tell others about the Lord.  During his years at RCA he attended Lancaster Bible College and Evangelical Theological Seminary in Myerstown, PA.  He was a licensed minister with The Christian Home League and became interim pastor at Lititz Baptist Church in 1968. He was ordained in 1970 and served as full time pastor of Lititz Baptist Church until 1978. Then he was the pastor at New Providence Baptist Church from 1979 until his retirement in 1991. The Manheim Baptist Church called him in 1993 and he served there until he retired again at the end of 1996. He returned to New Providence Baptist Church in 1998 as interim pastor until his third retirement in 2000. Pastor John felt the Lord calling him back once again from retirement when needed as interim pastor of Silver Spring Baptist Church from 2003 until 2005.  He continued his service to his Lord by visiting in the hospitals, teaching Sunday School and serving as a Deacon at Silver Spring Baptist Church where his membership was at the time of his death.

Here are some of the many comments from relatives that used FaceBook as the medium:

"We'll miss him dearly-never met a stranger,  Great example of what a Christian is by the life he lived, A stronger man of God we've never known, A spirit so gentle he could calm anyone, A man with a personality that was larger than the room, He always knew the right thing to say and do, He was a best friend to his grandchildren, He touched so many lives, He always had a smile for everyone he met and that's not just saying it-he literally had a smile for everyone, The world lost an incredible man but heaven is rejoicing,  He rests now with his Father for whom he spent his life serving, We'll see you again someday!"

Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend the Funeral Service on Thursday, May 5th at Silver Spring Baptist Church 4001 Marietta Avenue Columbia, PA 17512 at 11am with Pastor Jim King officiating. A viewing will take place at the Church from 9-11am on Thursday. Interment will be in the Conestoga Memorial Park. The following are so proud to be the pallbearers of a man they loved so much: Grandsons: Jim Fisher, Don Fisher, and Chris Judy. Great-grandsons: Jon Chalk and Zack Fisher. And Ken Harmon, husband of a granddaughter. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Pastor Fleming's memory to Silver Spring Baptist Church. To send the family an online condolence, please visit SnyderFuneralHome.com. Charles F. Snyder Funeral Home & Crematory 717-393-9661