Robert C. Flemming Sr., 85, of Macungie, formerly of Allentown, died Jan. 21, 2021. He was the beloved husband of Patricia A. (Cerzullo) Flemming for 61 years. Born in Camden, N.J., he was the son of the late Dorothy M. (Reynolds) and Francis J. Flemming.

He was a graduate of Camden Catholic High School, St. Joseph’s University and Lehigh University, where he earned his master’s degree in business administration.

He served as an officer in the U.S. Air Force, achieving the rank of captain before beginning his professional career as a Certified Public Accountant at the firm of Arthur Young in Philadelphia and later, Arthur Anderson. In 1963 he joined Air Products & Chemicals, Inc. in Trexlertown as controller of its space and missile division.

He held several financial management positions in the company including assistant corporate controller, vice president of finance of its subsidiary, International Coal Refining, Inc., in Allentown and vice president and corporate controller of subsidiary, Stearns Catalytic World Corp in Denver, Colo. He also served as the president of the APCI Federal Credit Union.

In 1987, he successfully ran for election to the office of Lehigh County Controller, serving for three consecutive terms, retiring in 2000. During his time in office, he was most proud of modernizing the county’s financial operations, reforming its pension program and overseeing major construction projects including a new prison and government center.

He served in leadership roles at the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, the Financial Executives Institute, the Lehigh County Retirement Board, The Livingston Club of Allentown, the Serra Club of the Diocese of Allentown and the Cetronia Ambulance Corporation.

He was a founding member of St. Thomas More Catholic Church, Allentown and was involved in numerous committees and initiatives for the parish and the diocese.

He enjoyed spending time on and around the water. An avid angler, he fished on the numerous lakes and rivers in the region and at his second home in Naples, Fla. He found joy in watching his grandchildren grow into adulthood and was able to welcome his third great-grandchild into the world, born just months before his death.

He is survived by his wife; sons, Robert C. Jr., Daniel J., Kevin F.; daughters, Colleen M. Harris and Sandra L. Casillas; eight grandchildren; three great-grandchildren. He was predeceased by a brother, The Rev. Francis; a grandson, Maxwell S. Casillas.

Memorials may be made to the St. Francis Center for Renewal, 395 Bridle Path Road, Bethlehem, 18017.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be private for the family. The family would like to invite you to view his Mass 10:30 a.m. Jan. 30 on the St. Thomas More Catholic Church YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfjQszypym6mQ52flx-UG9A. Arrangements were made by the J.S. Burkholder Funeral Home, Allentown.