Barbara Fleming

She was born in Boston on February 12, 1932, to the late Florence Augusta Carlson and the late Axel Justinius Johnson, who later made Natick, Mass., their home and her touchstone.

After graduating at 16, she enlisted in the U.S. Air Force at 18 and served in uniform for 11 years. After many assignments and adventures, she met William (Bill) Edward Fleming, of Stem, N.C., at Fort Myer, Va., and the Yankee and the Southerner married February 21, 1964. She was 32 and a virgin. She transitioned her military career to the civil service and retired in 1987 with 30 years of federal service.

She had many hobbies, including genealogy and rooting for all New England sports teams, and her favorite ways to pass time were drinking coffee, questing for the perfect cheeseburger (she found it at Shady Glenn in Manchester, Conn.), traveling to her beach house in the Outer Banks and to New England, and spending time with the legions of family and friends she loved dearly.

She is survived by her oldest daughter, Audrey Lynne Fleming, who was her ever-present friend, confidant, chauffeur, and helper until the very end; her youngest daughter, Karen Anne Fleming; treasured nieces and nephews; and brother Edward Johnson.

She was preceded in death by her husband; her sisters Elsie Donovan, Phyllis Tudgay, Dorothy Armata, Evelyn Chase, and Olga Johnson; and her brother Martin Johnson.

Visitation hours will be held from 10 a.m. to noon Thursday, March 5, at Mullins and Thompson Funeral Services at 186 Shelton Shop Road, Stafford, VA. A graveside service will immediately follow at Stafford Memorial Park, 154 Shelton Shop Road.