John Fleming

FLEMING, John Marvin, 84, left us on September 17, 2018 in Louisville, KY to rejoin Deanie, the love of his life. He was the only child born to Sidney and Mary Louise Stephenson Fleming on February 13, 1934. All of the Fleming men were named John, distinguished by Sr., Jr., or their middle names. John Marvin was raised on the Fleming family farm in far Western Kentucky by his grandmother, mother and aunts while the men worked the farm, until the family moved to Louisville. He was a proud graduate of duPont Manual High School, active in the Alumni Association, and was the left-handed, first baseman for Coach Kimmel's 1952 State Champion Manual Baseball team. John was drafted out of high school by the Mountain States League, a St. Louis Cardinals farm team, and played for a year before deciding to enlist in the U.S. Army. He married Phyllis Dean Parker in July 1954 and deployed shortly thereafter for Germany. John was a Master Sergeant in the Korean War, serving as a cryptographer and an intelligence agent with the CIA, living with Dean in Germany, Spain and France. After military service, he returned home to help with the family grocery store in Louisville, and graduated from University of Louisville. He and Dean raised three daughters, encouraging them to seek out education, be engaged in their communities and to give back when they had the opportunity. In these things, they were quite successful as their daughters have 6+ degrees among them and serve as an Attorney/C-level executive, Retail Manager and CEO of a Social Service Agency in addition to service on many boards and agencies in the region. John was a good man and a great friend, maintaining his close friendship since the 9th grade with his baseball teammate Giz Montgomery. They and their families spent many decades together filled with laughs and good stories. John worked in management for many grocery and food service companies and retired from Kroger. He remained active through most of his retirement reading daily, playing golf, as a member of the American Legion and a volunteer at Robley Rex VAMC. He was predeceased by his wife, Dean, and is survived by daughters Lisa L. Fleming (Joe Ware), Karen L. Fleming, and Laura Fleming-Balmer (Tony Balmer), and his pride and joy, grandsons Wyatt Ware and Mason Balmer. The family would like to thank Dr. Kimber D'Antoni and the nursing professionals at DuPont VA Primary Care and Robley Rex VAMC for his excellent care and treatment over the years, and the management, nurses, caregivers and staff of Sunrise Senior Living, Friendship Health and Rehab, Drs. Dimar and Cook at the Leatherman Spine Center, Norton Brownsboro Hospital and Hosparus for their expert, thoughtful, kind and attentive efforts. Arrangements will be private. John was very well-read, always with a book in hand, and a great advocate of education for his daughters and many other children. In honor of John, read a book this week. He was also always interested in politics - in his view, having served under President Eisenhower and observing many more over the years, Barack Obama was the greatest President in his 84-year life. In his honor, be certain to VOTE IN NOVEMBER, and in every election. In lieu of flowers, please consider a contribution to his favorite organizations: Trinity High School Foundation, 4011 Shelbyville Rd, Louisville, KY 40207; St. Francis School, 233 W Broadway, Louisville, KY 40202; Hanover College, Development Office, 484 Ball Dr., Hanover, IN 47243; or Clark County Youth Shelter, 118 E. Chestnut St, Jeffersonville, IN 47130.