ROANOKE, Va. — Arman Estel Fletcher, of Roanoke, Va., passed away peacefully at his home on Jan. 17, 2012 after a courageous battle with cancer. He was born Nov. 19, 1927 in Capels, W.Va. After spending his young adult life in the Princeton, W.Va. area, he moved to Roanoke, Va. in 1963. Preceding him in death are his parents, Jay Bernheim and Adda Estella Fletcher of Ceres, W.Va.; his only sibling, Jean Bernheim Fletcher of Idaho Falls, Idaho; a nephew, Jean B. Fletcher II of Sandy, Utah.

He is survived by his beloved wife of 53 years, Shirley Weikle Fletcher; sister-in-law, Shirley Fletcher, Boise, Idaho; nieces, Ellen Fletcher Dietrich (Phillip), Conroe, Texas, Jodi Fletcher Stiner (Gary) of Lewisburg, Pa.; great-nephews, Jared Fletcher, Sandy, Utah, Steven and Eric Stiner of Lewisburg Pa.; great-nieces, Samantha and Sara Fletcher of Sandy, Utah; brother-in law, Paul E. Weikle; nephews, Paul Jr., Edward (Dawn), Alan, and Bryan Weikle, all of Florida; nieces, Lisa and Lynn Weikle of Florida and Sharon K. Sanderson, San Diego, Calif.; a special friend, Tim Moffitt of St. Louis, Mo.; his loyal and devoted friend of fifty-plus years, J. D. Sisson (Fay) of Catawba, Va.; and very special neighbors, Peery and Barbara Angles of Roanoke, Va.

He was a youth member of Glenwood Park Methodist Church, Glenwood Park, W.Va. Arman retired in 1987 after 43 years of combined service with The Virginian Ry., Princeton, W.Va., Norfolk and Western Ry., Bluefield, W.Va. and Roanoke, Va., and Norfolk Southern Ry., Roanoke, Va. His last position was a Senior Systems Analyst in the MIS Department. He was well known in the Roanoke community, states of Virginia, West Virginia and North Carolina as a very competitive amateur golfer. He reigned as The National Elks Golf Champion, Southern Pines, N.C. for a record setting total of 13 titles. Perhaps his most cherished achievement was the "Putter Boy" trophy which he won in the 47th North and South Senior Men's Invitational, Super Senior Division Champion, played Nov. 1994 at Pinehurst Country Club, North Carolina. During the 1940’s-1950’s , one of his greatest honors and challenges was golfing with Billy Campbell (Walker Cup Team) and Ed Tutwiler in the West Virginia State Amateur, played annually on The Old White Course at The Greenbrier Hotel, White Sulphur Springs, W.Va. He never won this tournament. He was inducted in the Roanoke Valley Golf Hall of Fame in 1989. He was also a member of the Roanoke Valley Golf Association and The Virginia State Amateur Golf Association. Coaching friends and students was a favorite pastime. He loved to be able to help people of any age to improve their golf game. He was most gratified to have been a tournament champion in eight decades as he began his golf career at age six when he was working as a young caddy.

He and his wife were great advocates of ballroom dancing. As spectators, they attended The Heritage Classic Ballroom Championship in Asheville, N.C. For 17 consecutive years, The Ohio Star Ball, Cincinnati, Ohio, The United States Ballroom Dance Championship in Miami and Orlando, Fla. He competed once in a Fred Astaire Competition in Las Vegas, Nev. He was a member of The 300 Dance Club and a former member and President of the Cotillion Club.

He graduated from Princeton High School, Princeton, W.Va., class of 1944. He also attended continuing education programs at Bluefield College in Bluefield, Va. He was a life member of The Princeton, W.Va. B.P.O.E.

In lieu-of flowers, contributions can be made to The Arman E. Fletcher Golf Scholarship Fund of Concord University, Athens, W.Va., The American Cancer Association, Calvary Baptist Church, or a favorite charity. Friends may call at Oakey's Roanoke Chapel on Saturday, Jan. 28, 2012 from 2-4 p.m. and 6-8 p.m. Funeral service will be held at Calvary Baptist Church, 608 Campbell Ave., Roanoke, Va. at 3:00 p.m. on Jan. 29, 2012 with the Reverend Donna Hopkins Britt and the Reverend Dr. R. Clint Hopkins officiating. A graveside service will follow at 1 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 30, 2012 at Resthaven Park Cemetery, Princeton, W.Va. Friends may call from noon until 1 p.m. on Jan. 30, 2012 at Seaver Funeral Home in Princeton.