Wayne Anthony Fleming

Wayne was a 1966 graduate of W.T. White High School in Dallas, and in 1973 graduated from the University of Texas at Arlington with a B.S. in Biology.

He served at Fort Lewis Army Base in Washington in the early ‘70s. In 1974 he began his 35-year career with Irving-based National Chemsearch, where he became Director of Research and Development for Biotechnology.

Wayne loved Terlingua and looked forward to his yearly pilgrimage there for the Original Terlingua International Championship Chili Cookoff. There he served as a chili judge and photographer, and loved to sit around the campfire listening to stories and playing his guitar.

In recent years, Wayne brought his love of music and chili to collaborate with dear friend Kathleen Tolbert Ryan and others to start Tolbert’s Restaurant in Grapevine. There he helped start a live music venue featuring popular tribute bands, and he loved seeing the joy it brought to patrons.

Wayne is preceded in death by his parents, Capt. W.T. and Ruth Fleming.

He is survived by son Wendell Fleming and fiancee Anne-Marie Axilrod, his brother Capt. W.T. Fleming, Jr. and wife Shirley, companion Andrea Gorczyca, nieces Laura and Kristina and their families, and more friends than could possibly be listed.

A celebration of Wayne’s life will be held at Tolbert’s Restaurant in Grapevine Saturday afternoon, starting at 2:30 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, please send memorial donations to the Big Bend Library: Terlingua School Rd., Terlingua TX 79582, or to Terlingua CSD: 550 Roadrunner Circle, Terlingua TX 79582.