Richard Harold Fleener

DATELINE: CENTERTOWN

Richard Harold Fleener, 89, of Centertown was born on June 22, 1936, in Claybank, Pike County, Indiana and left those that he loved and the life that he loved on February 12, 2026. He was the third son of Dwight and Lorena (Riley) Fleener.

Aside from his parents he was preceded in death by two brothers, Alfred Carrol Fleener and Paul Gearld Fleener.

Those left that will cherish his memories are first and foremost his wife of sixty-nine years, Patricia (Reneer) Fleener. A son, Scott (Kim) Fleener, daughters, Kathy Fleener, Sandra (Gene Simpson) Daugherty and Cindy Fleener all of Centertown. Sisters, Pat Basham of Russellville, Phyllis (Larry) Buxton of San Antonio, Texas and Lee Thompson of Russellville. Eight grandchildren, twenty-four great grandchildren and four great grandchildren. Along with his golfing buddies and those that he enjoyed a cup of coffee with while solving the world’s problems.

Richard quit school in the ninth grade and went to work in the log woods at fifteen years of age. At the age of sixteen he went to work for the Wrought Iron Range Company delivering appliances. That same year he bought a brand new 1955 Chevy truck that his dad signed for. He had the bed removed and had a flatbed installed so he could deliver appliances for the same company. In 1954 he met the love of his life sitting on the steps of a sidewalk in front of the house that they would one day buy and live in for the rest of their lives. In 1956 while in Whiting, Indiana to pick up a friend getting off work to bring him home, he was offered a job at Inland Steel. December 23, 1956, he and Patricia married and lived in Whiting until 1962 when he was offered a job with Peabody Coal Company where he would retire after thirty-six years. From 1963-1965 he co-owned and operated W&M service station in Beaver Dam, Kentucky where he would work nights after working all day in the mines. He was a member of Centertown Baptist Church for over sixty years where he was a Sunday School Supt. and teacher of the high school and college students. In 1967 he and Patricia would buy their house and over the next twenty years he would remodel one room at a time until completed. In 1970-1978 he was the district commissioner for the Amateur Softball Association which covered five counties. During that same time of 1970-1973 he coached the Centertown Babe Ruth team. In the mid 1970’s he worked with Peabody to bring equipment in to redo the Centertown ballpark and create a new horse arena. After retiring from the mines, he took up the game of golf in the 1990’s and became an avid player. He was known for his deadly putting which he did with one hand. At the age of seventy-two he shot a sixty-nine. Though he dropped out of school after the ninth grade he served on the Ohio County School Board from 1972-1976. During that time, he was instrumental in bringing special education to the Centertown Grade School which would then that next year spread across our great state. He was involved in the beginning of Tamerlane Industries, which offered jobs to those with physical and mental disabilities. In 2000 he went on a mission trip to Haiti and after seeing such a great need for energy, power and water he worked on several inventions trying to figure out perpetual motion. He was a tinkerer and could fix most anything. There wasn’t an animal that he didn’t love (except maybe black birds). He loved composing poems; several were written down but most were recited from memory. Richard lived a full life and left a wonderful example. He loved and was loved and will be greatly missed, until we meet again in our heavenly home!

A celebration of life will be held at 1 PM Saturday, February 21, 2026, at Centertown Baptist Church with Bro. Scott Fleener officiating. Friends may visit from 11 AM until the time of the service Saturday at the church.

Online condolences may be left for the family of Richard Harold Fleener by visiting his memorial tribute at www.danksfuneralhome.com.