Charles Alvin Fleming Jr.

Charles Alvin Fleming, (Jr's), father, Charles Alvin Fleming grew up in Houston, and his father's father, Charles (Chas or sometimes Charlie) Jeptha Fleming was born in Jackson, Mississippi and came to Houston in the early 1920s as a very young man with his parents. Charles' paternal grandmother's family, the Reid family, were developers of neighborhoods in Houston including Lindale Park in the 1930s, where Charles grew up.Charles' mother's family, the Beeler family, were farmer-ranchers and came to west Houston as early as 1850. As a youth in the 1970s, Charles often visited the Beeler family at what still remained of the family ranch near the intersection of Briar Forest and Eldridge.

Almost all of Charles' elementary and secondary education was at Northwest Academy, a private Christian school founded in 1971 by the Moody Adams family and interested parents. Charles was always an excellent student even in elementary school and remarked to his brother recently that he was always frustrated to have trouble only in handwriting. Charles was an accomplished model maker from childhood. He was an avid photographer, learning from his father, and by only 8th grade he was the photographer for all high school events and also ran the school dark room. Charles played Varsity Basketball his senior year. He was Student Council President, Valedictorian of his senior class and a National Merit Scholar.

In early life, Charles was adventurous and enjoyed outdoor sports such as hiking trips to Colorado and canoeing and kayaking. He was also a dedicated jogger. Throughout most all his college years he drove a Jeep to facilitate his varied excursions.

Charles graduated from Rice University with a BA in Behavioral Science. During those years he also spent a semester studying economics in Edinburgh, Scotland as an exchange student, and later studied architecture in Sapienza, Italy. Charles was diversely talented and spent many hours using the art department facilities at Rice for sculpting, fine carpentry, and casting bronze. These skills, along with the Fleming family's tradition as builders, laid the path to his pursuit of design and Architecture. He completed two years of the University of Houston School of Architecture Masters Program.

Charles' early career included employment at the Houston Museum of Natural Science as an Exhibit Designer. As with each step of his life, he made many lasting relationships there. He also continued to enjoy opportunities for travel and journeyed to Russia for the Museum for research on the Faberge Egg exhibit.

During his career in the late 90s, he also served as Exhibit Director at the Museum of Health and Medical Science for several years.

Charles went on to work for Southwest Museum Services, beginning about 1992, serving as the Lead Designer for almost all new projects from that point on. Within a few years he was company Vice President. Projects for Southwest took him as far away as the Netherlands and Africa. Charles spent the last 23 years working at Southwest collaborating with many talented and hard-working designers including his brother Mark and his sister-in-law Tracie.

Charles was a loving father to his three girls and wonderful uncle to his nieces and nephews. He passed on his appreciation of film and scientific theory to his eldest daughter, his clever and absurd sense of humor to his middle daughter, and his artistic talent to his youngest. He will be deeply missed by his friends, family, and all who knew him.

Charles is survived by his beloved daughters Odessa Fleming and her husband Jake Henson, Emma Fleming, and Donna Fleming, and his partner Tiffany Toups.

Charles is also survived by his mother, Amy Jo (Beeler) Buske, step father Larry Buske, sister Janette (Fleming) May, niece Caroline (May) Cader and husband Chris Cader, nephew Andrew May and wife Jessica, brother Mark Fleming and wife Tracie, and niece Lillie, sister Heidi (Buske) Strange and husband Ryan Strange, and niece Carlynn. He is also survived by his niece Ashley Mitchell and half siblings and many much loved aunts, uncles, cousins and extended family.