James F. Fehlinger

James F. Fehlinger, 75. of Plains, passed away on Monday September 23, at his home after a brief illness.

Born in Wilkes-Barre, July 25, 1949, he was the son of the late Ferdinand and Doris McDowell Fehlinger.

Jim was a graduate of Coughlin High School and received a B.S. in Commerce and Finance from Wilkes College In 1971.

After college he served with the Pa. National Guard for 6 years. He was employed as a supply systems analyst for the Dept. of the Navy, Navy Ship Parts Control Center, Mechanicsburg, from 1971- 1981.

During his time in the Harrisburg area, he became an EMT and volunteered his time with the Hampton Twp. Ambulance Association. Since he was always interested in auctions, he took an auctioneer course and became a licensed auctioneer. Always wanting to be his own boss, in 1980 he purchased a franchise and opened the then AM-PM Mini Mart, which then became the A-Plus mini Mart, Pittston.

He, his father, his wife and daughters all worked in the business.  Soon Jim found another gas station, and in 1985 rebuilt the station into a new convenience store, Penn Corners Food Mart in Hanover Twp.

After the sale of both businesses, Jim was employed by the Pa. Department of Revenue,  Bureau of Lottery from which he retired in 2014.

After his retirement, he expanded his hobbies of attending and buying at flea markets at auctions. He enjoyed traveling, hunting and spending time at his cabin as a member of the Cherry Ridge Sportsman Club, Bradford County where he served as secretary for many years.

Surviving are his wife of 52 years, the former Theresa Cerza , daughters Kristi ( Marc) Layland, Exeter, Trisha ( Michael) Mikita, State College, and Melissa ( Michael) Kompinski, Wilkes-Barre, grandchildren, Stephanie, Jeremy, and Allison Layland, Madison, Mikita, and McKenzie and Mitchell Kompinski. Also surviving are a sister Bonnie ( Gary) Zisko, Apalachin, NY  along with nephew Jeffrey and niece Jaime Zisko.

Relatives and friends are invited to a visitation on Friday from 5pm to 7pm at the Gubbiotti Funeral Home, LLC, 1030 Wyoming Ave., Exeter.

Funeral will be on Saturday at 9:30am from the funeral home followed by a Mass of Christian burial at 10am at Corpus Christi Parish in Immaculate Conception Church, 605 Luzerne Ave., West Pittston. The Msgr. John Sempa, pastor will be celebrant.

Memorial donations may be made to Tunnel to Towers Foundation, 2361 Hylan Blvd. Staten Island, NY 10306 or www.t2t.org, an organization that James always contributed to.

To send the family an expression of sympathy or an online condolence, please visit www.gubbiottifh.com

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