Obituaries

Rev. John R. Fleming, 81

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

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I knew Pastor Fleming growing up. He was my grandmother’s pastor and officiated my grandpa’s funeral service. He also was the pastor who married my mother and father.

While I hadn’t seen him in many years, whenever I thought of him or talked about him the thing that stands out in my mind is he had a smile that could never go away. No matter what life brought to his plate, he was always thankful. Also, his love of the Lord and the people he was around. You could just look at him and tell he loved what he did.

He will be sorely missed, and my prayers for peace go out to all his family and friends.

God bless,
James Nies (Lititz, PA)

Please know that you will be in my thoughts and prayers.  I loved having him as my neighbor he will be highly missed but knowing I will see him again someday is a true blessing ! 

Stephanie & Leanne

Mrs. Fleming and Family:

I was so sorry to hear of the passing of Pastor Fleming, he will be sorely missed. I wish I could be there to pay my respects in person, but know that you are all in my thoughts and prayers. I remember Pastor Fleming coming to visit us at home and inviting us to come visit Lititz Baptist Church. I will miss him very much and know that he is happy to be in the presence of his Lord and Savior.

Love,
Donna (McMinn) Kienzle

Dear Mrs. Fleming and family,
I wanted to express my sincerest condolences to you on the passing of Pastor John. He was a wonderful man of God. He was the one to whom I went up at an altar call on the night that I was saved. He was the one who baptised me. He personally took me to compete in Bible Drills in State College when no one else was was available. He was there to comfort and support my siblings and I through the deaths of our parents. He is the man who laid the foundation of my Christian faith in my childhood, a faith that I still hold to this day. I will never forget him and the lessons I learned under his guidance, and I will cherish those memories always. I look forward to seeing him again one day in the eternal Kingdom of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. God be with you all and give you His comfort and strength during this time.

Michael McMillan
Bear, Delaware

My deepest sympathy to grandma and mommaw, sorry I could not be there, my thoughts are with you all.  Poppaw will be missed.  Love
Kyle Beasley

Margaret and family:

He will be sorely missed and we loved him dearly as he loved every member of our church.  He was one of a kind and we’ll never forget his smile and caring ways.  What a wonderful, special man of God!  We love you Margaret and will be praying for you in the days ahead.   

John, Deb and Tim Martin

I remember your family & especially Rev. Fleming. Your family lived next to us in Mt. Nebo. I lost contact through the years & now live in Southern Lebanon County. My condolences to your family at this time.
Sincerely,
Steve Stokes

Ron, Daryl and Bruce,

…My heartfelt condolences to you and, of course, the entire family.
In all these years, I don’t think I ever had the pleasure of actually meeting your Father, but I know he must have been a good man – because I’ve met his sons…who carry on.

You are in my thoughts and prayers,
Mike O’Day

Dear Margaret and Family,
  I was saddened to hear about the passing of John.  I always thought the world of John and all the things he taught me growing up.  I will never forget how you and John adopted my brother and I as your grand kids and that we called you Maw Maw and Paw Paw. You are in my thoughts and prayers always.  May God continue to bless you richly and I just want to send you so much love at this time.  God’s garden only gets more beautiful each day!

With Much Love
Christina (Phillips) Baker and Family

To John’s family,
My thoughts and prayers are with all of you. I will always remember his wonderful smile and great sense of humor. He was such a caring man.
Barbara (Doolittle) Brooks

Sorry to hear of the loss of a wonderful man whom I had the pleasure of meeting when he was asked to marry my husband and I 26 years ago, was there for us 24 years ago when our twins were born, and again when death hit our families.  He was a special person.

My husband and his family will always remember him as "Honky" as he would always blow the horn when he passed by you.

Best wishes to the family and continue to keep the faith, remember the good times as they will help you through the tough ones.

Love Always,

Jim, Shirley, Brad and Nicole Shank -New Providence
Don and Donnie Lee Rineer-New Providence

Hey Aunt Margaret,
This is Cherie (Charles’ oldest girl)!  I was really saddened to hear about Uncle John. My thoughts and prayers are with you and the family.  Brad and I always had the utmost respect for all you two did in ministry.  It is a tough calling sometimes, but so worth it when our time here on earth is finished.  He is praising Jesus, and just waiting on you to join him!
Love and Prayers
Brad & Cherie

My sincere condolences to the Family. Even though I was only in the family for a short time, I’ve known him to be a great father and grand-father. I know John is happy being with the Lord who he has worshiped and served through out his life.
Les Judy

My heart just broke as I read the obit.Margaret,Although I cannot be with you in person I am with you in spirit .There will never be another John.I have loved both of you through the years and will always have a special place in my heart for both of you.
Love and prayers,
Linda Brugger[late Robert Whittemore]

I would like to convey my condolences to the entire family. Not knowing John I suspect he led a very fulfilling life as he served at so many churches. He surely seemed to be the kind of man who brightened the lives of everyone he came in contact with. It is my loss for not having met him myself. As you are well aware GOD promises us a resurrection in which all pain and suffering will be done away with. Keep that as your hope and we can all see him again.

Don Rambler (fellow employee of Bruce at Kellogg’s)

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