USN (Ret.) SCPO William W. Fleharty

USN (Ret.) SCPO William Wesley Fleharty, 83, passed away on December 29, 2012. Graveside services will be held on Saturday, January 5, 2013 in Parkhill Cemetery, according to Striffler-Hamby Mortuary, 4071 Macon Rd., Columbus. The family will greet friends at the funeral home on Friday evening from 5:00-7:00 PM.

SCPO Fleharty was born July 18, 1929 in Galesburg, IL to the late William & Edith Pool Fleharty. He married Reba Strength on Aug.13 1960 in Atlanta, GA, with whom he had two children, Michael D. Fleharty and Cynthia Fleharty Gossett. He married Barbara J. Andrews Jones Fleharty on May 30, 1992 at Morningside Presbyterian Church in Columbus, GA.

Mr. Fleharty retired from the U.S. Navy as a Sr. Chief Petty Officer in 1971, Civil Service in Finance and Accounting at Ft. Benning, GA in 1991 and Jay Auto Group in 2010. Bill loved working in the yard, feeding the birds and sitting and talking with his best buddy, Jennings Hundley.

Mr. Fleharty was very active in square dancing with the Follow Me Travelers club. He enjoyed dancing not only with his club but other clubs throughout the area and being fondly known as “Sweet William”.

He has been active with his church family at Morningside Presbyterian Church.

He was such a devoted husband, father, step-father, grandfather and great-grandfather. He will be tremendously be missed and loved forever in our hearts. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a Sister, Clarice Fleharty Janka.

He is survived by his wife Barbara Fleharty of Columbus, GA; children, Michael Fleharty (Amy) of Waverly Hall, GA and Cindy Gossett (Donnie) of Kennesaw, GA; step-children, Debora Reynolds of Salem, AL, Lisa Boswell of Columbus, GA and Jerry “Bubba” Jones Jr. of Columbus, GA; grandchildren, Andrew and Hailey Gossett of Kennesaw, GA; step-grandchildren, Brandon McLendon (Jessica) of Columbus, GA, Matthew McLendon (Jan) of Auburn, AL, Sam Beman III of Phenix City, AL, Nick & Josh Beman of Salem, AL and Ryan (Kim) Yancey of Phenix City, AL; step-great-grandchildren, Maylee, Everlee & Aubree McLendon of Columbus, GA and Rose Marie Yancey of Phenix City, AL; nephews, Rick Janka (Barbara) of Longwood, FL and Randy Janka (Bev) of Leesburg, VA,

Sisters & Brother-In-Laws, Fran Seigfred (Marshall) of Manchester, GA, Sue Bohnak of Columbus, GA, Robert Andrews (Sandy) of Columbus, GA, Ronnie (Cindy) and Donnie Andrews of Albany, GA.

Please visit www.shcolumbus.com to express condolences.