Leroy E. Fleming

Leroy E. Fleming, a cherished member of the Baton Rouge, Louisiana community, passed away at home on the evening of February 3, 2025, just one week after his 103rd birthday. Born on January 27, 1922, in Port Hudson, Louisiana, to Isaac “Ike” and Addie Fleming, Leroy lived a life defined by family and achievement.

As a star athlete at Baker High School, Leroy was inducted into the school’s hall of fame for his excellence in tennis, track, football, and basketball. A year after graduating in 1941, he took a 3-day bus ride to Los Angeles, CA, where he was trained as a mechanic at Lockheed Aircraft Company. Within weeks of the bombing of Pearl Harbor in December 1941, Leroy married his high school sweetheart, Margie Bernard, in Los Angeles, and they danced to the music of a new singer, Frank Sinatra, in Hollywood.

Margie returned to Louisiana and Leroy enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Forces, a precursor to the U.S. Air Force. He was assigned to the 33rd Photo Reconnaissance Squad where he achieved the rank of Sergeant. The pilots of this unit flew unarmed P-38 aircraft that were outfitted with cameras to conduct surveillance before D-Day. Leroy was a member of the mechanic team. His group was also sent to Omaha Beach in France, where he was in a foxhole for several days until the army secured space for air strips to be built. Leroy also was with the groups that freed the survivors of a German concentration camp and he was at the Liberation of Paris. While in the foxhole, Leroy asked God to let him live so that he could be baptized at home, which God granted. 

Upon returning to Baton Rouge, Leroy was accepted into a program at Standard Oil, now Exxon Mobil, where he became a supervisor for the Research and Development Division. When Exxon sent Leroy to France to open a facility, his family accompanied him. Leroy showed his family some of the places he had been, and they returned home aboard the ocean liner SS United States. 

After Leroy retired in 1982, he and Margie began investing in rental property and travelling until his wife became chair-bound. He devoted his time to caring for Margie, even learning to make corn bread. Leroy was a techie before his time, being the first in his neighborhood to own a big C-band satellite dish (which he installed in his yard) in the 80’s and the first in his family to own an iPad at 97 years of age. An avid LSU sports fan, he was famous for saying that a play was “critical crucial” as LSU got down to the wire. Leroy even recorded LSU football games to watch in the off-season. 

In addition to LSU sports, his other joy was his family. He encouraged his family to pursue excellence in education and professional goals. He also had a sweet side. Leroy enjoyed watching the Bachelorette TV show because he said he “loved seeing young people in love.” 

Leroy attended Zoar Baptist Church and was a member of the Central Masonic Lodge #442. Having outlived friends his age, his caregivers became his friends. They treated him like a king, preparing his coffee and meals with detailed precision until the very end of his life.

Leroy was preceded in death by his wife of 70 years, Margie; his mother and father, Issac and Addie; son, Michael (Bobbie); and grandson, Randy. Leroy is survived by his daughters Cheri Sevier (Rick); Patricia McKenzie (Fred); grandchildren Lynn Fleming, Ricky Sevier, Jeff McKenzie (Pam); great-grandson Layne Fleming (Ashlynn) & several nieces & nephews.

With deep gratitude, the family thanks: Doctors Adrian Landry; Norman Deumite, Salmon Baghian, and John Amadon; Pastors Glen Miers and Clint Newsom; Caregivers and friends: Shirley & Kenneth Browning; Carolyn & Warren Winstead; Dave Myers; Lisa Crutcher; Mona Bates; Deara Hawthorne; Carol Whittle; Doreatha Wright; Elaine Wynn; Karen Parker; Kathleen Cage; & Amanda Sparks; Zoar Baptist Church.

Friends and relatives are invited to the Visitation at 10:00 a.m. on February 12, 2025, at Resthaven Gardens of Memory and Funeral Home, 11817 Jefferson Hwy, Baton Rouge, LA until the Memorial Service at 11:00. a.m., and the burial service at Resthaven, followed by a reception at Zoar Baptist Church, 11848 Hooper Rd, Baton Rouge, LA.

 In lieu of flowers, please make donations to St. Jude, Zoar Baptist Church, or the charity of your choice.

Family and friends may sign the online guestbook or leave a personal note to the family at www.resthavenbatonrouge.com.