From left to right: Hannah Williamson (granddaughter), Andrea Fling (daughter), Cherie Moore (daughter), Richard Fling (Hall of Fame Class of 2011), Melissa Gandee (daughter) and Sidney Gandee (granddaughter wearing Sandy’s original bowling jersey). (Photo Provided)

PARKERSBURG — A wife, mother and grandmother in 1963 Parkersburg graduate Sandy Fling as well as 1992 Parkersburg South graduate Scott Eddy were inducted last month into the Parkersburg USBC Hall of Fame.

The Big Red, who was married to husband Richard – a 2011 hall of fame honoree – for half a century, started bowling with him in the late 1960s at Ren Dor Lanes on Monday nights.

Daughter Cherie Moore said in her hall of fame dinner speech they would leave the three girls (Andrea Fling/Melissa Gandee) with grandma and “we spent those Monday nights watching ‘Little House on the Prairie’ and eating popcorn cooked in bacon grease. Those were great times.

“Over the course of the next 45 years mom bowled with each of her children at one time or another. During that time, she also adopted other “children”. Just ask Amber Hill. I know it’s hard to believe, but there were times that Amber would get “out of line”. Mom could flash “the look” and bring her back in line without saying a word.”

Eddy, who is employed by Worley and is a project manager and engineer, got his start at the age of 7 at Ren Dor.

Known as “Eddy Carry”, that name didn’t come for a few years following his first career 299 game, which he rolled when he was 12.

“Not too much. It’s been 38 years ago,” admitted Eddy when asked if he recalled the game.

“I still have the bowling pin that I left. My parents got it for me. It’s downstairs in the so called man cave.”

Eddy, who got a two-year associates degree in drafting at WVU Tech before earning his engineering degree at Ohio University, is looking to continue his streak of at least one 300 game for a 21st consecutive season.

“I have not had one this year,” Eddy admitted. “I’d like to have one just to keep the streak going.”

Eddy, who rolled his first 300 when he was 21 and had his first 800 when he was 24, has 64 perfect games and 17 series of 800.

“That kind of started when I started bowling adult leagues once I got out of college,” said Eddy, who was a member of a W.Va. state team scratch title and also swept the Mountain State scratch events in 2014, of his nickname.

Fling, who like Eddy was a secretary for various leagues, always had an eye for the small details throughout the season.

“It was important to her that the members on the league had all that they needed, that the rules were followed and that the banquet was memorable,” daughter Cherie expressed in her speech while noting all the record keeping back then was done by hand.

“Not long ago, Bill Dotson told Andrea that he still had the trophy that mom had given him for the 297 game he rolled during league play.

“The trophy featured the three pins he left standing in that final roll so he would never forget the ones that kept him from that perfect game.”

Eddy, who has participated in the USBC nationals, PGA regionals, PGA qualifiers and the 2007 US Open, is set to compete in a few of the PBA50 regionals.

“I’m bowling my first regional next weekend in Greensboro, North Carolina,” said Eddy, who will be going with Brent Watson. “I’m going to hopefully do three events a year. I at least want to try a 50 so when I’m 60 or 70 I don’t regret not doing it.

“I don’t have enough vacation time to bowl the whole schedule. I don’t have that kind of free time with work.”

Hall of famer Jay Hines broke the news to Eddy, who has been married to wife Mieka since 2011 and has three children in Melinda, Paul and Aaron, about his induction.

“It’s nice to get called a hall of famer instead of just Eddy Carry now,” he quipped. “It’s nice to be inducted.

“I never really started bowling thinking of the hall of fame. It was a nice evening and I kind of feel pretty proud of the accomplishment.”

Eddy said although he had a lot of help along the way, he credits his parents for much of his success on the lanes.

Fling, who worked for the Dils Brothers and Company after first being married, opted to be a homemaker and to fill her time taking care of the family and doing volunteer work.

“Her big things were her church, her family and her bowling. She loved her bowling,” added daughter Cherie of her mother, who had a career-high average of 171 with a top game of 256 and a 631 best series.

“She may not have been the best out there, but she was the best ambassador. She loved bowling.”

Contact Jay Bennett at jbennett@newsandsentinel.com