David Lewis Fleshman, 62, of Blue Sulphur Springs, WV, passed away Thursday, November 20, 2014, in a single vehicle accident near Alderson, WV.
Born June 9, 1952, in Clifton Forge, VA, he was the son of the late Lewis A. Fleshman Jr. and the late Helen Chenoweth Fleshman.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his precious son, David Alexander Fleshman.
David graduated from Greenbrier East High School in 1970. He attended the Extension Center of West Virginia University in Fairlea, WV.
David was born and raised on a beef cattle farm and was an excellent horseman. He was a genuine cowboy, and working with cattle and riding horses were two of his passions. He followed in the footsteps of both his father and his grandfather by choosing farming as his vocation. He operated a beef cattle farm in Blue Sulphur Springs.
After having worked in the yards at Alderson Livestock Market for many years, David took over as weighman when his father “retired,” and he continued to work there until that market was closed. He also worked at Bluegrass Livestock Market in Caldwell, WV. He previously worked for a short time at Westvaco in Rupert, WV.
David was a good friend to many people. He was generous to a fault, and he never met a stranger. Everyone recognized his deep, bass voice and his beautiful smile that he wore most of the time. He was rarely, if ever, seen in public without his cowboy hat and boots, along with a Western belt buckle.
He was an extremely loving father, son, brother, uncle, nephew, and cousin, and he will be greatly missed until we meet him again in heaven, where he now is with his “Little Man” and his mother and father.
Survivors include three sisters, Sue Fleshman of Alderson, Doris Griffith and husband, Larry, of Alderson, and Martha Fleshman of Lewisburg, WV; one nephew, Robert Adair of Lebanon, VA; four nieces, Kristi Crouch of MacArthur, WV, Amy Brooks and husband, Donald, of Shady Spring, WV, Amanda Griffith of Durham, NC, and Taylor Carter of Lewisburg and Grassy Meadows, WV; grandnephews and grandnieces, Chase Crouch and Levi, Darren, and Alana Brooks; and several very special friends too numerous to name.
Funeral services will be conducted on Wednesday, November 26, 2014, at 2 PM at the Lobban Funeral Home Chapel in Alderson with the Rev. Sam Groves officiating. Burial will follow At the End of the Trail Cemetery in Clintonville, WV.
Friends may call Tuesday, November 25, from 6-9 PM at the funeral home in Alderson.
Serving as pallbearers will be Larry Griffith, Paul Harrah, Tony Presock, Noel Adkins, Jeff Cline, and Chester Parker.
For those considering an expression of sympathy, the family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Hydie Adkison College Fund, c/o Martha Fleshman, P.O. Box 9, Lewisburg, WV 24901.
Lobban Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Obituary originally published in the November 24, 2014 edition of the West Virginia Daily News.
