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Whether you knew him as George, Mr. Rotary or just that guy with the friendly face and pleasant personality, George Fleshman was the kind of person who left his mark on you. In fact, George Fleshman left his mark on a lot of things — on people, on his community and on the world.
La Grande’s own Mr. Rotary died Thursday at the age of 83. Services are planned for 11 a.m. Wednesday at the La Grande First Christian Church, 901 Penn Ave.
La Grande native George Fleshman lived a full life. Not only was he a great husband (of 61 years) to his wife, Dorothy, and wonderful father to his four sons, but he was man who, plain and simple, did good things. Whether he was delivering his travelogues to local service clubs, churches, schools or nursing homes, serving his church and the local United Way, or spreading the word about Rotary International and all the good work it does to build bridges of understanding, George was a positive force in the world.
Many people’s lives are defined primarily by their careers. As manager of the local Social Security office from 1971 through 1983, George certainly was known for his work. But neither retirement nor age really ever slowed George Fleshman. He stayed active, both physically and in serving others.
George was honored as the Chamber of Commerce Man of the Year way back in 1965. In 1988, five years after retirement, he received Eastern Oregon University’s Distinguished Service Award. And just recently he was honored as a “valuable volunteer’’ by Grande Ronde Retirement Residence. He volunteered as a cross country skiing coach for the Special Olympics for 14 years.
And the man backpacked regularly and climbed mountains. Boy did he climb mountains, earning the Mazama 16 Peak award in 1970, scaling the Matterhorn, hiking the Pacific Crest Trail in Oregon in 1987, and climbing Mount Whitney — the highest peak in the Lower 48 — on the occasion of his 64th birthday in 1988.
And George traveled. He traveled the world, keeping in touch with Rotary everywhere he went. He was, without a doubt, the epitome of Rotary International’s motto, “Service Above Self.’’
Thank you, George, for all that you did to make our community and the world a better place.
The world needs more George Fleshmans.
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Opinion 
