Raymond "Ray" Spencer Fleming, 84, of New Bern, NC passed away on Saturday, January 2, 2021 surrounded by his children. Ray was born on October 11, 1936 in Detroit, MI to the late Louis A. and Evelyn J. (Spencer) Fleming.
Ray attended Wilbur Wright Trade School in Detroit, MI, graduating in 1953. The same year, at age 17, he joined the Air Force during the Korean War peace talks. Ray was trained as an Aircraft Instrument Technician, triggering his interest in machine tool manufacturing, and served honorably for four years.
He returned home in 1957 and enrolled at the University of Detroit, where he met his life-long friend, Dick Peters. During his short time there, he worked as a reporter for the University of Detroit newspaper.
In 1958, Ray took a job as a restaurant cook on Mackinaw Island, MI, where he met his future wife, Sandra Jean McIntyre. They were married on August 13, 1960. And his mother-in-law, Jane McIntyre, was fond of saying that she “knew it on the boat.” The “boat” being the boat from the Island to the mainland.
He spent his entire career in the machine tool industry, beginning as an Apprentice Toolmaker with Snyder Corporation in January 1960 and retiring as VP of Marketing Services from EX-CELL-O Machine Tools in November 2000.
Ray discovered his love for camping and the outdoors in the Boy Scouts. His favorite camping destinations were Young State Park in Boyne City, MI and the Cape Hatteras National Seashore, NC. He also enjoyed fishing, boating, and target shooting. In the early 2000s, Ray achieved his dream of getting his small plane pilot’s license, although his wife put a stop to building a kit plane.
Indoors, Ray enjoyed drafting house plans, building models, and cooking. He was especially known for his Lemon-Orange Cake, which he first made as boy to help his Mom, and for his homemade Irish Cream, which he made each year for Christmas.
He is survived by his three children, Anthony Fleming of New Bern, NC; Kathleen Prewitt and her husband, Reid of Fulton, MD; Jeanine Suzuki and her husband, David of Vienna, VA and by his two grandchildren, Susan Prewitt and Benjamin Suzuki. He is also survived by two brothers, William Fleming and his wife, Pat and Louis Fleming and his wife, Barbara of Rochester Hills, MI, as well as, his stepsister, Jan Pickering and her husband, Jack of Pittsford, NY.
Ray is predeceased by his beloved wife, of 59 years, Sandy and by his brother, Gordon.
The family thanks the nurses and doctors of the New Bern EastCarolina Medical Center Intensive Care Unit for their kindness and compassion during Ray’s final illness.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations to the Carteret County Humane Society in honor of Ray’s love of animals. The address is 853 Hibbs Road, Newport, NC 28570. Their email address is www.cchsshelter.com
The family will honor their father with a private memorial service with military honors.
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