Thomas W. Fleener Sr.

Thomas W. ‘Tom’ Fleener, Sr., age 75, passed away Thursday afternoon, January 30, 2020 at the Greenfield Healthcare Center.  He was a resident of Martinsville.

Tom was born July 2, 1944 in Brown County to the late Woodrow W. and Mabel E. (Zook) Fleener.  He married Martha L. Lemons on November 11, 1962 in Morgantown.  She preceded him in death on January 2, 2015 after 52 devoted years of marriage.

Tom attended Morgantown High School.  He retired in 2004 from ArvinMeritor, Inc. in Franklin, after 40 years of service where he was a Punch Press Technician.  Tom was a member of the Mt. Nebo Community Church in Martinsville.

Everyone that knew Tom, knew of his love for drag racing and motorcycling.  The late 1950's brought the art of drag racing to Tom's neighborhood while he was still in high school.  The Ford Mustang was the machine of choice and he brought home trophies from races in Bean Blossom, New Hope, Lyons, Evansville, Raceway Park, Bunkerhill, Muncie & the Highway 41 dragstrip near Chicago.  He was proud of the three cars he built & raced throughout his career but his favorite was the Ford Mustang that weighed 2000 lbs. with a 750 horsepower 521 cubic inch motor. "It was a powerful machine, going from zero to 115 mph in less than 6 seconds." Tom loved the track at New Hope because it was like "Going back in time" with lots of older model cars sporting the modern up to date & powerful engines. 

Tom remained close to his brothers throughout his life.  They were often known as "Tom, Dick & Harry," and enjoyed many a chuckle over this.  He spent endless hours and miles riding his motorcycle, traveling often with his childhood friend, Larry Mullins. Tom and his late wife, Martha, also loved to travel the United States. With their favorite trip being to Mount St. Helen's after the 1980 eruption.   

Tom loved the land where he was born and raised and enjoyed deer and raccoon hunting.

Tom is survived by his son, Thomas W. Fleener Jr. of Martinsville; siblings, Harry (Donna) Fleener of Martinsville and Betty Asher of Franklin; sister in law, Sharon Fleener of Martinsville; grandchildren,  Jeffrey Adams of Morgantown, Jacob (Amber) Fleener of Martinsville, Julie Ann & Shane Fleener, both of Bargersville; and great grandsons, Henry Adams of Morgantown and Aaron Thomas Fleener of Martinsville.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Martha; siblings, Sue Fleener, Barb Denniston and Richard ‘Dick’ Fleener; and a daughter in law, Molly Fleener.

A funeral service will be held on Tuesday at 1:00 p.m. at Meredith-Clark Funeral Home Cremation & Personalization Center, 179 E. Mulberry Street in Morgantown. Friends may call from 11:00 a.m. until service time on Tuesday at the funeral home. Burial will be at East Hill Cemetery in Morgantown.

Condolences may be sent to the Fleener family at www.meredith-clark.com.

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