Pillar of Lincoln, Arthur Fleming, dead at 91

A celebration of the life of Art Fleming will take place on Sunday, Nov. 2 at 4360 Jackson St. on the Fleming family property at 2 p.m.

Fleming died Oct. 12 in his 91st year.

“Art will be missed, always a quiet, gentle soul, he and Val were generous with their time and always stepped up whenever the community asked,” said MP Dean Allison.

Fleming was born in Louth Township, Lincoln, Ontario to Aubrey DeWitt Fleming and Elma Margaret (Merritt) Fleming Nov. 24, 1923. He lived his entire life on the land that had been in his family since 1843. He finished high school at Beamsville District Secondary School and worked with his widowed mother to build their chick hatching business.

In 1948, Art met the love of his life, Val Shillington.

Art and Val were married in 1950. Their life together spanned more than six decades.

From the beginning, their focus was on building their family – five children born within four years, and their business – Fleming Chicks. Today, the Fleming family has grown to include one son-in-law, four daughters-inlaw, 14 grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren.

Over 40 years, the Flemings grew their business to be the largest family-owned broiler hatchery operation in Ontario.

In 1990, Fleming Chicks was sold and currently operates as a division of Maple Lodge Farms Ltd.

Along the way, Art and Val found time to participate in all manner of intellectual, artistic, civic and spiritual activities.

Through their varied involvement in academic studies, music and drama performance, municipal and organizational governance, and Christian worship, they have contributed substantially to the well-being of so many institutions and the people they serve.

“Art’s pride in and passion for his community was great. He demonstrated this in his extraordinary generosity given for the well-being of countless people and places in his community. I will remember him just as I do Moses F. Rittenhouse.,” said Margaret Andrewes. “Both are Lincoln legends, never forgotten and forever appreciated for all that they gave to our town.”

Art will always be remembered for his wisdom, strength and kind, loving ways.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Art’s honour to the Art & Val Fleming Fund-Niagara Community Foundation or Great Lakes Christian High School.

Visitation will be held at the Beamsville Church of Christ, 4900 John St., on Friday, October 31st, 1:30-4:30 p.m. and Saturday, Nov. 1st, 2-4 & 7-9 p.m.