Leona Mae Bottlemy Redpath Fleming

Leona Mae Bottlemy Redpath Fleming, 96, was born May 12, 1921 in Harvard, Illinois a daughter of Ervin Grant and (Femke) Fannie Nyboer Bottlemy.
Leona, the first of five children, cherished early life with family and many people whose influence encouraged her. She rode bikes; ice skated and enjoyed life in a small farming community. 
In 1942 she graduated from Augustana Lutheran Hospital in Chicago as a Registered Nurse and joined the U.S. Navy. While stationed at the Naval Hospital in Stockton California she met George Redpath, the Navy SeaBee who informed her on their first date she was the woman with whom he wanted to spend his life.
As WWII ended, they married and returned to West Virginia. In Clarksburg, they started their family with children Larry, Cynthia, and Dinah. After moving closer to family in Weirton, five-year-old Larry died of leukemia; a year later, four-year-old Cindy died accidently. Leona found joy again with the birth of daughter Amy.
She was a member of St. Thomas Episcopal Church, where she often played the organ for services.
In 1962, husband George died suddenly and Leona became a single working mother as a private duty nurse for critically injured patients. She still made time for family picnics, hikes, shopping trips, Sundays with friends and vacations to family in Illinois. Some happiest memories were as volunteer nurse for Weir High Band at camps and on trips. She felt privileged to know many young people and loved memories of those experiences.
Her interests included music, antique collecting, sewing, hiking, horseback riding, being outdoors, and driving down roads to see where they ended.
In 1971 she married Charles B. Fleming and enjoyed sharing their four children and five grandchildren. When Charles died suddenly in 1999, Leona again supported her family through a great loss. As always, she stayed busy with friends, visiting daughters, gardening and pets.
At Quester meetings she shared her interest in history. She loved playing her piano and collected antique organs. Leona surprised family and friends by calling to play a special Happy Birthday concert.
Leona died peacefully at home with her daughters in St. Petersburg, Florida on November 20, 2017. She was preceded in death by her husband, George A. Redpath; son Larry; daughter Cindy; parents Ervin and Fannie; and husband Charles Fleming; sister Eileen Boyan; and brother Charles Bottlemy. Days after her passing, brother Ervin Bottlemy Jr. died after a sudden illness.
Leona is survived by daughters Dinah Redpath of Morgantown, WV, and Amy Redpath Beilis of St. Petersburg, Florida; sister, Lorraine Davis; niece, Kristin Bottlemy and nephew, Jon Bottlemy in Illinois; much loved stepdaughter Lynne and husband Ernest "Buzz" Caldrone of Wintersville, their children Ernie (Lisa), Brian, and Jennifer (Michael) Wisnieski; stepson, Fred Fleming and wife Joann; and granddaughters Elvera Pacheco  and Michelle Berry and families.    
Visitation will be Tuesday December 12 from 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. at Mosti Funeral Home, Steubenville, OH; and  Wednesday, December 13, from 10-11 a.m. at St. Thomas Episcopal Church on Three Springs Dr. in Weirton just prior to the funeral service. Reverend Philip K. Van Dam will officiate. Burial will be at Chestnut Ridge Cemetery in Florence, PA.
Offer condolences at www.mostifuneralhome. com.

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