Richard Earl Fletcher, 83, Greenfield, went home to be with the Lord on September 9, 2016, at Kindred Transitional Care and Rehabilitation in Greenfield. He was born on December 25, 1932, in Greenfield as the son of John I. Fletcher and Etta Mae (Cox) Branson.
He was a kind and gentle man with a good sense of humor. He was well liked by everyone he met.
Richard was a lifelong resident of Hancock County. He graduated from Greenfield High School in 1950 and then served his country in the Airforce during the Korean War where he was a military policeman from 1951-1955. During his early adult life, he was a restaurant owner of the G-2 Café in Knightstown, a private investigator, a dock manager for Overhead Door Corporation, had a private pilot’s license, and helped his step-father with farming.
He married Carol Jean (Grigson) on April 30, 1964, in Knightstown. Richard worked as a journeyman ironworker for Ironworkers Local 22 for 27 years before retiring in 1991, when he then went on to work for Indiana Precision Technology (IPT) for 7 years and at Arrowhead Golf Course.
Richard attended Curry’s Chapel United Methodist Church, where he served a Sunday school teacher and later as a superintendent for several years. He served as a school board member for Eastern Hancock Schools in the late 1970s and oversaw the construction of the current elementary school. He enjoyed mowing, taking pictures, and caring for all of the homeless animals he took in over time.
Richard is survived by his wife of 52 years, Carol Fletcher of Greenfield; children, Angela (Mike) Ennis of Arvada, Co., Marilee (Michael) Ganesan of Frankfort, Ky., Jada (Chad) Royer of Springville, Ind., and Bill (Autumn) Fletcher of Wilkinson, Ind.; and seven grandchildren, David, Syrus, Ethan, Samara, Saben, Benny, and Carolyn.
He was preceded in death by his parents, John Ira Fletcher and Etta Mae Branson; siblings, John (Margie) Fletcher, Barbara Joann (Dale) VanHoos, Pat (Don) Rehfuss and Charles (Arlene) Fletcher; stepmother, Zatha Fletcher-Haney; stepfather Robert Branson; stepsiblings Ann Holmes Chapman and Neil Haney.
Per Richard’s wishes, he will be cremated. The committal of the ashes will take place during a graveside service at 3 p.m. on Friday, September 23, at Glen Cove Cemetery in Knightstown with military honors. A Celebration of Life Open House will occur that same day from 5 to 8 p.m. at the home of Bill and Autumn Fletcher, 8911 E. 650 N., Wilkinson, IN.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be sent directly to Hancock County Humane Society at 214 East Main St, Greenfield, IN 46140; Hancock County Senior Services, Inc. at 1870 Fields Blvd, Greenfield, IN 46140; or to Mental Health America of Hancock County at 98 East North State, Greenfield, IN 46140.
Friends may share a memory or send a condolence at erleweinmortuary.com or email condolences to [email protected].
Arrangements are being handled by Erlewein Mortuary & Crematory in Greenfield, IN.
