Herbert Daniel Fleming Jr.
Herbert Daniel Fleming Jr. of Sarver passed away peacefully on Tuesday at Good Samaritan Hospice at Concordia, Cabot, after an extended illness.
He was born in Akron, Ohio, June 19, 1928, to Herbert and Angela Niggel Fleming. He lived in Goodyear Heights and attended East High School in Akron.
He worked at the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co. in Akron and retired in 1990 with more than 39 years of service. He also worked as a bricklayer for his uncle's construction company building Hoban High School, Midway Plaza and DiLullos Restaurant.
He married Dorothy Stevenson in 1950 and they had three children, Pat Hardesty of Akron, and Sandra Wolfe and Dennis Fleming of Stow, Ohio. After their divorce, he was married for several years to Rosalie Conn until her death in 1974.
Herb and his brothers were self-taught musicians. He played the fiddle when they got together for their “jam sessions.” His favorite music included classical violin and Irish folk tunes. He traveled to Ireland several times and delighted his granddaughters by singing Gaelic songs. He was a meticulous craftsman who enjoyed building model airplanes and ships.
He visited family in Butler frequently and on one of those visits in 1992 he was introduced to his future wife and love, Gayle (Percy) McKivigan. He moved from Stow, Ohio, to Butler when they married in 1993 at St. Paul Roman Catholic Church. Herb enjoyed driving, and they traveled extensively through the states and enjoyed spending time with family and many friends.
Herb was a member of the Commemorative Air Force, Arizona Wing and toured with the World War II B-17 bomber “Sentimental Journey.” He belonged to Butler Moose Lodge 64 and was a lifetime member of the Elks. He also supported the American Air Museum in Britain.
In addition to his wife and children, Herb is survived by five loving granddaughters who adored him, Sandy and Jeff Wilson and Kayleigh and Paul Ferder, all of Stow, Shannon Fleming of Kent, Ohio, Jean Hardesty of Akron, and Claire and Dr. Wahid Tazudeen of Chicago. He also is survived by his loving extended family, who greatly enjoyed his sense of humor, three stepsons, John and Pam McKivigan of Butler, Tim and Laurie McKivigan of Cranberry Township and Mike and Laura McKivigan of Sarver; and a stepdaughter, Rebecca and Ryan Richardson of Sierra Vista, Ariz.
He was a special grandpa and “Pappy Herb” to Jason Glasgow, Libby, Isabella and Liam McKivigan, all of Sarver, Hannah and Nicholas Richardson of Arizona, Justin McKivigan of Butler, Josh and Meg McKivigan and great- grandson Eli Anthony, all of Ellwood City, Chad and Shevaun McKivigan and great-grandson Damien, all of Georgia, and Garret McKivigan.
Also surviving are his sister, Rosemary and Jerry Appeldorn, and his brother, Richard and Sue Fleming, all of Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio; former sisters-in-law, Linda Fitzgerald of Cuyahoga Falls and Linda K. Fleming of Marietta, Ohio; his Aunt Kathryn Fleming and Uncle Al Niggel, both of Butler; brothers-in-law Andrew and Gayle Percy of Mesa, Ariz., and Dale and Amy Percy of New Jersey. Survivors include Col. Richard Conn and Marilyn of Colorado Springs, Colo., and Sharon Conn Harris of Atlanta, Ga. Many nieces, nephews and cousins also survive.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his son-in-law, Steve Hardesty; his brothers Leo, Jerry, Donald and Steve; and his niece, Paula Fleming.
Herb was a true gentleman, very kind hearted, generous and pleasant with a great sense of humor that endeared him to many people. He will be greatly missed by all of his friends and family.
<B>FLEMING</B> — Friends of Herbert Daniel Fleming Jr., who died Tuesday, March 20, 2012, will be received at the <B>Geibel Funeral Home</B>, 201 E. Cunningham St., Butler, from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Friday. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 9:30 a.m. Saturday at the St. Paul Roman Catholic Church, 128 N. McKean St., Butler. Graveside services and interment will be at 3 p.m. Saturday at Chestnut Hill Cemetery, 2613 Sackett Ave., Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio.In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be sent to the Good Samaritan Hospice, 134 Marwood Road, Cabot, PA 16023.Information also is available at www.geibelfuneralhome.com.
