Richard L Flora

Our much-loved husband, dad, grandpa, Richard L. Flora, 77 years old, went home to be with his Lord and Savior on Saturday, August 31, 2024, at OSU Hospital. He took his final breath surrounded by his family and friends as he entered the gates of Glory. He was born on February 3, 1947, to the late Elza Flora Jr. and Elizabeth (Carter) Flora in Huntington, West Virginia.

Rick graduated from South Point High School, class of 1965. His love of tinkering with cars and trucks led him to Nashville, Tennessee where he graduated from The Nashville Auto Diesel College. After working for many years for Great Lakes Energy and W.W. Williams, he decided to venture out on his own. On April 1, 1985, he opened Flora’s Diesel Repair Service in Johnstown, Ohio where he worked until April 1, 2024. He gave all glory to God every day for his business. As much as he loved turning wrenches, Rick loved the Lord, his family, and his church family. Camping, fishing, hunting and singing were all favorites of his that you could find him enjoying in his spare time. He was a founding member of New Covenant Community Church where over the years he served as the treasurer, an elder, board member, Sunday School teacher and on the praise & worship team. In his early years, he loved singing bass in a church quartet side by side with his friends at Harmony Baptist.

Survived by his beautiful and loving wife of nearly 59 years, Dorothy (Riley) Flora; son Richard A. (Deborah) Flora; and daughter Wanda Beth (Brian) Warner; brother Gary Flora; grandchildren Kayla (Nathanael) Ashbrook, Kassidy Flora, Justin Flora, Brianna Warner, Blaire Warner and Brooklynn (Austin) Lopez; great grandchildren Aiden and Theodore Ashbrook, baby boy Lopez coming soon; numerous nieces and nephews; special friends; his loving church family; and many friends from the diesel world. He was predeceased by his parents, Elza and Elizabeth Flora, Jr.; sister-in-law, Barbara Flora; and niece, Rebecca Flora.

The family will receive friends on Thursday, September 5, 2024, from 4:00 – 6:00 pm with a 6:00 service to follow at New Covenant Community Church, 8408 Johnstown- Utica Rd, Johnstown, Ohio 43031 with Pastor Kyle Springer and Pastor Ben Schwieterman officiating. Graveside and Interment will be held on Friday, September 6, 2024, 1:00 pm at the Burlington-Greenlawn Cemetery in Burlington, Ohio. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Rick’s memory to: New Covenant Community Church.

The family would like to thank the Monroe Township and Hartford Township Fire Departments, Licking County Sheriff Department, Mount Carmel St. Ann’s ICU medical staff, Med Flight transport and the OSU Hospital ICU 11th floor medical staff for all the loving care and compassion shown to him and everyone during his final days.

Arrangements by Oliver-Cheek Funeral Home, Ashville, Ohio. Online condolences at olivercheekfuneralhome.com.