The Ohio deaths index lists Kenneth Crain Phleger, born 4 Dec 1912 in Springfield, Clark Co., Ohio, died 31 Mar 1999 in Madison Co., Ohio, married, 12th grade education, father’s surname Phleger, mother’s maiden name Hazzard, occupation auto and home supply stores, supervisors and proprietors.

His obituary reported:

“Kenneth Crain Phleger, 86, of London, died at 3:18 a.m. Wednesday, March 31, 1999 in Madison County Hospital. Born December 4, 1912 in Springfield, he was the son of Gilbert and Emma (Hazzard) Phleger. He had owned and operated the former Western Auto Parts Store in London. Survivors include his wife, Vera Lee (Wenrick); granddaughter, Jennifer Phleger of London; daughters-in-law, Rev. Terry Phleger of Middletown and Jan Phleger of London; sister-in-law, Ann Wenrick of Springfield; and special care givers, the Mike Harris family of London. He was preceded in death by his sons, John Jack Phleger on March 29, 1999 and Robert Crain Phleger; grandson, John Robert Phleger; and brother-in-law, Gilbert Wenrick. Graveside services will be held at 11:30 am Thursday in Paint Township Cemetery. Donations maybe made to the First United Methodist Church of London. The family is being served by the Eberle Funeral Home, London.”

The Ohio deaths index lists Vera Lee Phleger, born 14 Dec 1912 in Missouri, died 16 Nov 2001 in London, Madison Co., Ohio, father’s surname Wenrick, mother’s maiden name Downing, widowed, 4 years college.

The Wittenberg [College] Online Magazine for Spring 2002 reported in its Alumni Memoriam section, for the Class of 1973:

“Vera Wenrick Phleger, London, OH, died Nov. 16, 2001. She taught with the Madison and Clark County Schools before retiring in 1978 from South Vienna Middle School. A member of First United Methodist Church and Phi Beta Psi sorority, she co-owned the former Western Auto Parts Store in London. A granddaughter, daughter-in-law and sister-in-law survive. She was preceded in death by a son, Robert C. Phleger ’60.”

Since Robert died in 1970, the reference to ‘60 presumably means that he graduated from Wittenberg College in 1960. It appears that Vera got her college degree at the age of 60!

1940 census of Clark Co., Ohio, Springfield ward 3, E.D. 12-50, enumerated 7 May, lists on p. 17B as family #394, at 218 N. Limestone St:
Phleger, Kenneth, 27, b. Ohio, machist, airplane parts mftr, same house in 1935, 4 yrs high school; Vera, wife, 27, b. Missouri, 4 yrs high school; Robert, son, 1, b. Ohio. Plus four apparently unrelated adult lodgers.