Virginia Fleming

Virginia Elizabeth Fleming, age 98, of Paola, Kansas, died Sunday, July 10, 2016. Virginia was born May 4, 1918 at California, Missouri. She was the second of five children born to Tecumseh Sherman and Mary Eva (Liebi) Heidbreder. She graduated from Northeast High School, Kansas City, Missouri with the Class of 1935. She was united in marriage to James Weldon Fleming on July 2, 1938 in the White Avenue Methodist Church, Kansas City, Missouri. They made their home in Kansas City, Missouri and became the parents of five children. They moved to Overland Park in 1964 and then to Paola in 1975. She worked at Hallmark Cards after graduating from high school. After the birth of her first child, she became a homemaker. In the 1970s, she worked at the Tastee Freeze in Olathe. She owned and operated the Swap and Shop in Paola for eight years during the late 70s. She worked for her daughter at Inch by Inch in Olathe, Kansas. Virginia enjoyed garage sales and flea markets. She had booths in many flea markets in the area. She collected pouring pitchers. She was an avid supporter of the boys and girls scouting organizations. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, her siblings Charles, Paul, Mary Helen, and Gerry, and two sons James Jr. and Thomas Harvey. She is survived by her daughter Elizabeth "Betty" Beard of Louisburg, Kansas; two sons Kenneth Eugene of Spring Hill, Kansas and Michael Lee of Paola, Kansas; 13 grandchildren; 14 great grandchildren; 1 great-great granddaughter; many other relatives and friends. Contributions in memory of Virginia can be made to Vitas Hospice in care of Penwell-Gabel Funeral Home, 305 N. Pearl St., Paola, KS, 66071. To share a memory of Virginia or leave a special condolence message for her family, please click the Share Memories tab.