Galen Daniel Fletcher

1935 - 2022

Galen Daniel Fletcher
April 18, 1935 - August 31, 2022
Columbia, South Carolina - Galen Daniel "Dan" Fletcher was a loving and caring husband, father, brother, grandaddy, uncle, friend, and son. He passed away peacefully in Columbia, SC surrounded by family on August 31, 2022 at the age of 87.
Born in Hughes, NC on April 18, 1935 he was the fourth child of the late James Paul Fletcher and Doxie Daniels Fletcher of Newland, NC.
Dan spent his formative years in Hughes and Newland where he graduated from Newland High School in 1954. He joined the Army in 1956 and served briefly in Korea before he returned home to study at Lees-McCrae College (Banner Elk, NC). From there, Dan began his long career in furniture sales with Builtright Chair Company first in Statesville, NC and then in Atlanta, GA. It was in Atlanta where he met his loving and beautiful wife, Anne. They were married in her parents' church in Mobile, AL in 1968 and built their family of 5 in the eastern suburbs of Atlanta. During that time an opportunity arose for him to work for La-Z-Boy Chair Company, whom he dutifully served until 1993. In 1979, he moved his family to Columbia, SC where he continued to work for several furniture companies and eventually retired; but, those who knew Dan, know that he never really fully retired. Throughout all of his life Dan dedicated his time, talents, and money to his family, church, and friends. For more than 42 years Dan actively worshiped and served at Spring Valley Presbyterian Church as a deacon and elder; he was also an avid supporter of the Souper Bowl of Caring, Habitat for Humanity, mission trips, church work days, and whenever help was needed. At home, he was always busy working on the house, growing a garden, and tending the lawn. Sunday afternoons were reserved for watching golf on tv or listening to the NASCAR race on the radio (while it was also playing on the TV with the sound turned all the way down). Dan enjoyed travelling near and far, spending time in the mountains or on the water, camping almost all year long, and spending time with his family and the many friends he met along the way. After their children were grown, he and Anne traveled to Europe and saw much of the US by air, car, and RV. They visited eastern states from Florida to Maine, floated down much of the Mississippi River, drove along the Pacific Coast, and cruised the Alaskan shore. Believe it or not, one of their more adventurous trips was on jet skis from Columbia to Charleston. Over the last 21 years Dan loved and adored his 4 grandchildren spending time with them on golf cart rides and camping trips; he found particular joy doting on them at the beach every year. Dan never met a stranger and would talk and share his time and talents with anyone who would accept it. He is missed by many.
In addition to his wife, Anne Steele Fletcher, and parents, he was preceded in death by his brother, Paul Herman "Sonny" Fletcher.
Dan is survived by his brother, James Randall Fletcher; sister in-law, Frances Grindstaff Fletcher; sister, Mollie Fletcher Rary; son, Galen Daniel Fletcher II; daughter in-law, Sarah Baxter Fletcher; grandson, Galen Daniel Fletcher III; grandson, William Paul Fletcher; son, James Lee Fletcher; daughter, Margrett Fletcher Winegard; son in-law, Jason Todd Winegard; granddaughter, Elizabeth Anne Winegard, and grandson, Jason Fletcher Winegard.
The family would like to extend their deep gratitude to the doctors, nurses and staff at Prisma Richland for their loving care and attention to Dan and his family.
Memorials may be sent to the Souper Bowl of Caring (tacklehunger.org), Spring Valley Presbyterian Church (125 Sparkleberry Lane, Columbia SC 29229) or Newland Presbyterian Church (199 Elk St., Newland, NC 28657)
A service in Columbia will be held at Spring Valley Presbyterian Church on Sept 8, 2022 at 2 PM. Visitation will be from 1:00 â€" 2:00 pm. Shives Funeral Home will provide a webcast of the service on their website (shivesfuneralhome.com) for those who cannot attend in person.
A service will also be held in Newland, NC at Newland Presbyterian Church on Sept. 9, 2022 at 2 pm. Visitation will be from 1:00 to 2:00 pm.
Memories and condolences may be shared at ShivesFuneralHome.com