Charles Richard Baesler

Frankfort – Charles Richard Baesler, age 84, passed away on Tuesday, October 28, 2025. Services will be held at Harrod Brothers Funeral Home on Thursday, November 6, 2025, at 1:00 p.m. with Dr. Jack Brewer officiating. Burial will follow at Sunset Memorial Gardens. Visitation will be held at Harrod Brothers Funeral Home from 12:00 p.m. until 1:00 p.m. service time on Thursday.
Mr. Baesler was born in Lexington, Kentucky on April 5, 1941, to the late Charles Franklin Baesler and Ruth Hieber Baesler. He was retired from the Kentucky Department of Transportation Division of Highway Construction, where he worked as a Landscape Architect for over 40 years. He also owned and operated his own landscaping company and Christmas tree farm for over 20 years. He was raised on a family farm in Athens, Kentucky where he developed a lifelong dedication to hard work and appreciation for the outdoors. He also maintained lifelong ties with his cousins in Benson, Arizona where he enjoyed the outdoors as well. He graduated with a Bachelors of Science in Forestry from Auburn University's School of Agriculture, Department of Forestry, in 1964. He was employed by the U.S. Forestry Service as a Ranger in the Cumberland National Forest for two years before beginning his career in Kentucky state government. In retirement, he remained active working on his farm in Franklin County. He was known among family and neighbors as dutiful, generous and helpful, plowing snow from neighbors' driveways and helping with yard work for shut ins. He was a beloved son, husband, father and grandfather. He was a member of Highland Christian Church where he served as an Elder and Sunday School teacher, and also attended First United Methodist Church.
He is survived by his sons, Charles R. Baesler, Jr., and David C. Baesler (Alyssa); grandchildren Callie, Charles III, Daniel, Micah, and Madalyn, and cousins in the extended Baesler family. He was also blessed with several nieces and nephews.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his dear wife, Betty Fisher Baesler, to whom he was married for 60 years, and his sister, Betsy Baesler Jones of Clearwater, Florida.
Serving as pallbearers will be William Fisher, David Bean Fisher, Larry Jones, Stuart Jones, Charles R. Baesler III, and Daniel Baesler. Honorary pallbearers will be David B. Fisher,
Henry Scott Baesler and Bob Rowland.
Arrangements are under the direction of Harrod Brothers Funeral Home & Crematory.