BILL FLEMING 1964 - 1985 STATION AGENT SLN DEN PHX Really saddened of hearing of Pat going west. He was one super guy, and one of my best friends. We worked together in the tower in DEN for many yrs. Maybe some of you senior agents that worked in DEN at that time will remember the 'WakeUp' call that Pat & I used to give you. At exactly 0600 we would turn up the radio (that was tuned into KHOW's morning show with Hal & Charley) really loud and blast the Lone Ranger's theme. I will miss you Pat-have a good flight! -Bill Fleming (1/4/02) Just read the news of Sam Cales passing. Bummer! Sam was SM in PHX when I worked there, 1980 till the end. Sam and I had more than a few 'go-arounds', but he was always fair and would listen to your situation. Damn, seems like everytime I check in here, someone I knew or worked with has gone west. Anywho, Sam, have a good flight! See you later. -Bill Fleming (6/28/02) Subject: Looking for ex rampie buddies. Thanx, all for your replies. As to T. Sittler, Zobens, et al. Tom S. was like a bro to me, (hey, weren't we all?) as was Zobens, Nick the Greek, Yellowhair, Crowbar, J. Divelbiss, Wally, Pat Turner,(gone west-sad, one of the best friends I ever had!) Sorry, I can't remember last names, for the fact that I am so old, I suffer from 'CRS', ie, 'Can't Remember Sh*t'--burnt out what brain cells I have left from working in the tower, LOL! Anywho, thanks to all the replys-hey, Jim Lane, I remember you-you used to sweat like a pig in the pits! LOL! To any of you on this site that remember our partys in Lakewood, give me a holler (oh, God, Holler? Jeez, I've lived in the Ozarks too long! LOL!) Again, Thx, -Bill Fleming, aka, aspenlad, aka, 'The Foz!'='Fleming From Oz!'.. (8/31/03) I just recieved word That Bill Fleming has gone west. He worked DEN operations tower during the 70's. According to his brother he died yesterday morning 07-06-2006. I will send more info as soon as I can. -Ron Abfalter (7/7/06) Here is a photo of Bill Fleming taken in May 2004. A proud Scotsman. -Ron Abfalter (7/7/06) I'm pretty sure he was hired before 1968. Worked the tower with him in 1977 if memory serves. He was on morning shift with Pat Turner. Worked there for years. He was living near Springfield Mo. We traded emails about every other day. Was living with his soul mate, Daphne Irwin. I know she works for the Springfield library but not sure which branch. If you have a contact for JD (Jerry Divilbiss) that worked the tower or Bernie Wilmas they might have a better idea of his seniority date. Barb Turner might be of help as well, or you could try his brother Don. Don informed me of his death. I will send you his email. -Ron Abfalter (7/7/06) Here is the mail I recieved from Don Fleming. Hope it helps. -Ron Abfalter (7/7/06) This is Bill Flemings brother Don. To those of you who don't know yet, Bill has passed away as a result of a fall down stairs at home. I believe it happened early this morning but I'm not sure of the details yet. I just found out about it this evening about 8:30. -Don Fleming (7/7/06) I found Bill on the 7/1/84 FL/ALEA list WR FLEMING Seniority date 10/12/64 Emp # 02858 But he's not on the station agent list 1/1/86. He must have left the company - maybe the early out. -Jake Lamkins (7/7/06) Here's the info on the memorial for Bill Fleming. -Ron Abfalter (7/12/06) Dads Memorial Service will be held on July 25th at 11:00 A.M. at the Unitarian Church in Springfield Missouri. I will provide directions and a map. If you wish you may bring something to read or share something with others. Please email me with any questions you may have. Thank You Sincerely, -William D. Fleming (7/11/06) Did you ever see an obituary? -Jake Lamkins (7/12/06) Haven't seen one yet but will forward as soon as I see one. -Ron Abfalter (7/12/06) Here's the reply I got from Bill's son. I tried to find it on the line but didn't have any luck. I'm not the greatest puter guy in the world though so maybe you will be able to. -Ron Abfalter (7/13/06) Mr. Abfalter, he should have had an obit published in the Clay Center Dispatch as per the local Funeral Home. This was either last Friday, 7-7, or Saturday of last week. Thank you for your reply. Frontier was a big part of my earlier years and I was very proud of my fathers association with that company and profession. Both my brother and I were very proud of my fathers role. Take care and Thanks, -Bill Fleming (7/12/06) I couldn't find it online either. -Jake Lamkins (7/13/06) On my way out to RNO to see my daughter graduate from Univ of Nev Reno I went through Stapleton just before it shut down. It was the strangest feeling. It was like I was finally home again. Still miss that ole airport. I think that's why Bill Fleming's death hit so hard. He was the spirit and embodiment of that place. Working the tower with him, JD, and Pat Turner was the real deal. -Ron Abfalter (7/14/06) Thanks so much for getting the site set up. Bill was a very good friend over the last few years. I know he really didn't want to be on the memorial page quite this soon but whaddaya gonna do. He often told me that he felt bad going to the FL site as there were so many that had gone west. Still seems that I keep looking for an email from him letting Bush or some other government official have it. Gonna miss those. Again thanks for all you do for us old Frontier codgers. -Ron Abfalter (7/18/06) Thanks for passing that on to us. It's a great pic of Bill. He will be sorely missed. Thanks again, -Kathy (7/18/06) This is a great site. Through my father, both Central Airlines and Frontier, will always hold a special place in my heart. My father loved airplanes and flying from the time he could remember. Thank you again for honoring my father. Smooth Skies -William Fleming (7/18/06) I am Bill's niece by marriage. The website for the Clay Center Dispatch is: http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?brd=1160 However, I will be contacting Bill Jr as I haven't seen his obit published yet? At least it hasn't been in the online version of the paper. Thanks for the putting up this page for Uncle Bill. It's very nice. -Kelly Fleming (7/19/06) Just read about Bill on the FL site. He was a good friend and fun to work with. I'm pretty sure he worked for CN before the FL merger. He told me once that he remembered me when non-reving on CN, but I don't remember where he was stationed....... -Jim Lane, BOI (7/19/06) Sure have been missing Bill Fleming since last July. I didn't realize just how good it was to be able to have the weekly emails to chew over the days events or the memories from the old days at Stapleton. -Ron Abfalter (1/15/07) While serving as Station Manager in Salina, Kansas we had a DC3 turn-around flight, MKC-MHK-SLN-MHK-MKC. If I remember correctly, it was the Flt 55/56 turn-around. One of the stews (now FA's) historically forgot to take her Dry Stores Kit with her when she returned to the aircraft after the short layover. Very dutifully, one of our guys would take it to her before takeoff. Can't remember who thought of it (probably, Bill Fleming), but one day we decided to pull one on her........ After we buttoned up the flight, we pushed the nose stand up to the aircraft and gave the Captain the Kit through the window, telling him that we would notify MHK on the drop line and they would retrieve it before opening the cabin door. The Captain was to tell the FA that we were putting it on a Greyhound bus and that it would be waiting for her in MHK. Well, all went exactly as planned and the agent in MHK presented her with the Dry Stores Kit as he opened the door, reassuring her that the Bus had arrived just before the flight did. Needless to say, we caught alot of flack from "mother superior" in MKC, and had to promise not to mess with her girls anymore. Regardless, it still gave us all alot of laughs, and she never forgot the kit after that..... I don't think she really believed us...at least I hope not. There is also a good story out there about Capt. David O. Dodd giving the MKC Chief Pilot a Snapping Turtle, with a big bow on it, for Mothers Day, if you can find anyone with all the facts. Best Regards to you Jake and to all of our old CN/FL friends!!! -D.L. "Duke" Ellington (1/20/08) Posted at the FL Club: Subject: Updated memorial webpage BILL FLEMING 1964 - 1985 STATION AGENT SLN DEN PHX http://FAL-1.tripod.com/Bill_Fleming.html I found three articles mentioning Bill. Post your remembrances. -Jake Lamkins (3/20/10) I worked with Bill on the ramp and in the DEN tower for several years. My first exposure to Bill was when he was the outbound bag runner from the bag room. He always picked one of the old tugs with the manual transmission and no speed governor. He always burned rubber with each start and stop, speed shifting the gears in between. Too bad he missed the NASCAR era. He usually worked the position in the tower answering all the radio calls from flight crews. Bill was proud of his heritage and always boasted of the superiority of German beer and the need for it to be enjoyed at room temperature. Those American brews served cold were just whale pee. Often times though, those hops and grains resulted in Bill being quite flatulent. One day Bernie Smolczyk and I had to go downstairs for some fresh air. At the bottom of the tower stairs, a young flight attendant asked if she could go up into the tower and see it. We sent her right up. I remember a story Tom Sitler told me about one time when Bill was coming over to his place for a get together. Bill drove a VW Thing, painted in German military fashion. Tom was quite embarrased as Bill drove up his street with the top down and German military marching music blasting away. He was a character and very fun to work with. -John Dahl (3/23/10) W R FLEMING Emp# 02858, PHXOO Address in Mesa, AZ per the Nov 1984 Frontier Roster. W R FLEMING Emp# 02858 Station agent seniority date of 10/12/64 per the Jul 1984 FL/ALEA Seniority List. He is not on the Jan 1986 seniority list so he left sometime in 1985. -Jake Lamkins (7/4/16) FLacebook - FL Club FLight West: Bill Fleming SLN DEN PHX station agent Bill Fleming's memorial webpage has been updated: http://FAL-1.tripod.com/Bill_Fleming.html Still need an obituary for Bill. -Jake Lamkins (7/5/16)