Richard Lee Haslar, 69, passed away at home on March 14th, 2023. He was born in Erie, PA to Henry and Twyla Haslar on January 10th, 1954. He soon moved to Alliance, Ohio where he attended Alliance High School and graduated in 1972. He played football at Alliance High School. He soon went to work for American Steel Company in Ohio until he joined the Army in 1977. He spent two tours in Korea and a tour in Germany, mainly spending most of his stateside tours at Fort Knox since he was a tanker and tank instructor. This is where he met his wife, Shirley Highbaugh Haslar. He retired after 20 years with the rank of Sergeant First Class. After retirement, he pursued a career in the restaurant business where he was manager of McDonald’s in Louisville; manager for Steak and Shake in Elizabethtown; kitchen manager for O’Charley’s in Elizabethtown and finally General Manager of O’Charley’s in Evansville, IN, where he and his wife Shirley spent five years until moving back to be close to family. He worked at Sears in Elizabethtown until health issues forced him to retire from there in 2010. He spent 45 years as an umpire/referee of football, softball, baseball, basketball and volleyball from little league to semi-pro until health issues in 2019 sidelined hm. He loved all the kids and adults he met along the way while doing this. He was an avid Ohio State, UK and Cleveland Brown’s fan until the end. He was a bowler on a league for several years while in the Army. During retirement years, he enjoyed pickleball and did for a couple years until health issues prevented him from being able to play. He was a Kentucky Colonel and a member of Severns Valley Baptist Church. He was preceded in death by his parents, grandparents, mother-in-law, Faye Highbaugh and sister-in-law, Rita Highbaugh. He is survived by the light of his life, his wife of 31 years, Shirley Highbaugh Haslar; two sons, Sean (Vicky) Young of Bowling Green and Chris (Lynn) Young of Elizabethtown; his grandsons, Zack and Gavan Young of Elizabethtown and Isaac and Logan Young of Bowling Green; father-in-law, Ottis Highbaugh; brother-in-law, Tim Highbaugh; sister-in-law, Benita (Terry) Buckles and several nieces and nephews. The funeral will be Thursday at 1 p.m. EDT at Brown Funeral Home. Burial with military honors will follow in Memory Park Cemetery in Bonnieville. Visitation will be Wednesday from 5 to 8 p.m. and continue from 11-1 p.m. EDT at the funeral home. Condolences may be expressed online at www.brownfuneral.com.

Visitation:

Wednesday, March 15, 2023 from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM
Brown Funeral Home

Service:

Thursday, March 16, 2023 starting at 1:00 PM
Brown Funeral Home