Estol R. “Jip” Fleming began his baseball career serving as star pitcher on the Parsons College baseball team from 1947-1951. After serving in the United States Army and being honorably discharged as a Corporal, Jip pitched for the Fulton (KY) Lookouts, an affiliate of the Washington Senators. Jip was employed at Rockwell Collins beginning in 1954, until retiring in 1985. Baseball continued to be an important part of his life as he coached little league and Babe Ruth teams in Marion for many years.
Jip died in April 2020 but is lovingly remembered by family including daughter Tana Leaverton who works as a special education teacher at Vernon Middle School and son Morrie Fleming of Marion.
The Fleming family collected memorial donations in Jip’s honor to support causes that would have been meaningful to him, including a generous donation to Marion High School’s baseball program and to support Start School Right, which holds a yearly event to provide students with the items they need for school. In 2020, this event prepared over 300 MISD students for the start of the school year.
Marion Independent School Foundation & Alumni Association appreciates this support in memory of Estol “Jip” Fleming.