Dean S. Flemming

Stratham – Dean S. Flemming, 95, formerly of Stratham, died Wednesday, September 16, 2015 at The Pines in Newmarket. He was born June 23, 1920 in Millville, New Brunswick, Canada a son of the late George S. and Gladys P. (Dunlop) Flemming. He graduated from Skowhegan, Maine High School with the Class of 1938. A veteran of WW II, he piloted a Boeing B-17 “Flying Fortress” with the 709th Bomb Squadron, 447th Bombardment Group (Heavy) of the US Army Air Forces. 1st Lt. Flemming flew 30 combat missions from Rattlesden Air Base in England to various targets over France, Belgium, and Germany. After being hit by enemy fire on two separate occasions, he successfully ditched his aircraft without losing a crew member. 1st Lt. Flemming was twice awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and was the recipient of five Air Medals. After his discharge from the military, he started a long career with the US Postal Service. He began as a letter carrier in Skowhegan, Maine, and was promoted to Postal Inspector, Field Service Officer and Postal Service Officer in Albany and Glens Falls, NY. He then became the District Manager of the Empire District in Rochester, New York. He retired from the office of the District Manager of the Capital District in Washington, DC. in 1978 with 36 years of service including his four years in the Army Air Forces. He participated in several schools of management development, including in London, England, at Oklahoma University, the University of Virginia at Charlottesville, and Harvard University. He was the husband of the late Dorothy E. (Hosmer) Flemming who predeceased him in 2009. Family members include three sons, Rev. Dean S. Flemming, II, and his wife Marikay of Fulton, NY, Dale E. Flemming and his wife Judy of North Hampton, New Hampshire, Rev. Dana L. Flemming and his wife Martha of Willoughby, Ohio, his daughter, Diane Ramsdell of Meredith, New Hampshire, 15 grandchildren, 21 great grandchildren, and several nieces and nephews. He was also predeceased by his brother Neil U. Flemming killed in action in Germany in April of 1945, and his two sisters, Beatrice “Pearl” Seamans and Jean Carrigan. Mr. Flemming held a deep faith, having been raised in the Church of the Nazarene during his childhood, and continued to worship with his family as a member of the United Methodist Church. Visiting hours will be from 2-4 P.M. Monday, September 21, 2015 at the Remick & Gendron Funeral Home-Crematory, 811 Lafayette Road, Hampton. Services will immediately follow in the funeral home at 4 P.M. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to honor Mr. Flemming's service to his country by providing donations to the Collings Foundation, 137 Barton Road, PO Box 248, Stow, MA 01775 in their work of maintaining World War II aircraft, including a B-17.

Dean S. Flemming

June 23, 2015 - September 16, 2015