Following several months of severe illness, brother George Flem of Englewood, Ohio passed away January 24, 1985 at the Veterans Hospital in Dayton, Ohio.

Brother Flem, who was a member of the Knollwood Church of Christ in Xenia, Ohio, preached for many congregations following his obedience to the gospel in 1953 at Albany, California. Within two weeks of his conversion, he was searching for small congregations where he could do some preaching and teaching. He later preached full-time for congregations in Portland, Oregon; Pasco, Washington; Lancaster, Brawby, and Vacaville in California; St. Peters, Missouri; and Englewood, Ohio.

During his third year at Englewood, he began to feel tired; he began teaching electronics, thinking a change of pace would perhaps make him feel better. Shortly thereafter, he had to begin drug therapy for Crohn's Disease. He later suffered through two surgeries, then cancer of the kidney, kidney failure, strokes and Myotonic Dystrophy (a form of Muscular Dystrophy).

When visitors came to see him at the hospital, they were treated to his subtle wit and humor. He complained very little.

Brother Flem also was in the U.S. Navy for more than 20 years. At retirement from the Navy, he was Chief Electronics Technician and subsequently taught school for a while.

He is survived by his wife Benetta, daughter Peggy Alexander of Sacramento, California (whose husband Don is a gospel preacher); Kristine Copeland of Gambrills, Maryland; sons, George K. Flem, gospel preacher, Maple Heights, Ohio; Robert of Dayton, Ohio and Charles and William of Englewood, Ohio and several grandchildren.

Memorial services were conducted by brother Basil L. Copeland, Sr., at the Dayton National Cemetery. Brother Copeland spoke of the service, devotion and humility of brother Flem and read a poem the Flems had presented to the Copelands on their 25th wedding anniversary some years back.

Guardian of Truth XXIX: 6, pp. 173, 180
March 21, 1985