Henry V. Fletcher Jr., of Anderson, SC, passed away on Tuesday, October 13, 2026.

Born January 27, 1946, in Anderson, South Carolina, Henry was given 80 years of a full life filled with family, service, hard work, Clemson football, and plenty of time on the water. The son of Henry V. Fletcher Sr. and Vergie Haulbrooks Fletcher, Henry grew up in Anderson, attended Boy's High School, and graduated from T.L. Hanna High School in 1964.

In 1967, Henry enlisted in the United States Army, beginning a chapter of his life defined by courage, service, and a willingness to answer the call of duty. He served with the 44th Medical Brigade as part of the 18th Surgical Hospital/571st Dustoff Unit and was a combat medic in Vietnam from 1968 to 1969. He was honorably discharged in 1970, having served his country with distinction. He then went to work for UPS, where he spent the next several years proving that he could deliver under pressure in more ways than one.

Never one to let work get in the way of an education, Henry earned his associate's degree from Anderson College in 1973 and his Bachelor of Arts degree from Clemson University in 1977. In 1987, he left UPS to help his wife, Marlane, grow their own businesses. Their ventures included Upstate Cellular, Decorator's Studio and Gallery, which later became O'Henry's Art and Frames. Together, they built businesses and a life that reflected their hard work, creativity, and determination.

Henry officially retired in 2014, although there are those who might argue that his retirement began considerably earlier. Whatever the actual date, Henry had a talent for making sure life was enjoyed, and he was not about to let a little thing like a work schedule interfere with that goal.

Henry had two great loves outside of his family: Clemson football and the water. In both cases, he was loyal, passionate, and not particularly interested in hearing opposing opinions.

A devoted Clemson Tigers fan, Henry stuck with his team through the ups and downs. Of course, he preferred to discuss the ups, especially the championships. His trip to the 1981 Orange Bowl was a favorite memory and one he could revisit with the enthusiasm of someone who had personally helped win the game. If Clemson was playing, Henry was watching. If Clemson won, he was ready to talk about it. And if Clemson lost, well, there was always next week, or a championship from the past worth discussing instead.

His love for the water started when he was a young man with a small house on the lake. Over the years, that love grew to include multiple houseboats at Dock 9 at Portman Marina. The lake became his happy place, and Mondays often found him out on his jet ski. Some people start the week with coffee and a to-do list. Henry preferred to start his with a little horsepower and a whole lot of water. It was a schedule he could wholeheartedly support.

Later on, Henry also looked forward to his Tuesday afternoon gatherings with Frog's Boys. These get-togethers were an important part of his week, providing time for friendship, conversation, and undoubtedly a few stories that may have grown a little better with each retelling. Henry loved to organize his free time. The rest of the world could take notes.

Above all, Henry loved his family. He is survived by his beloved wife, Marlane Fletcher; his sons, Will Fletcher (Jamie Fletcher) and Wesley Fletcher (Jillian Hollingsworth); and his five cherished grandchildren, Emerson, Samuel, Myla, Levi, and Alyce. He is also survived by his siblings, David Fletcher, JoAnne Muchiarone, Margaret Quick (Kenneth), and Stanley Fletcher, along with many other family members and friends who were fortunate enough to be part of his life.

Henry loved his family and was immensely proud of his sons and grandchildren. They brought him a special kind of joy, and he leaves behind a family that will carry forward his stories, his traditions, and his unmistakable personality. He loved to hear updates on their activities and accomplishments and attended their sports games, theater productions, and school events as often as he was able. He took pleasure in taking the whole family out to dinner, despite scrutinizing the bill because the reward was a captive audience around the table and as much bread as the waiter would graciously accommodate. Many summer beach house trips and Christmas breaks were spent together cooking meals, playing games, and just hanging out with each other. These are the fun times and memories that will be re-lived in gratitude for time well spent. They will remember his love, his humor, his loyalty, and perhaps a few opinions they didn't necessarily ask for but got anyway.

Henry will be remembered as a man who served his country, worked hard, built a life with his wife, loved his family fiercely, cheered for Clemson faithfully, and understood that the lake was a good place to be whenever possible. He knew the value of hard work, but he also knew that life was about more than work. It was about family, friends, good memories, and making time for the things you love.

The lake may be a little quieter on Mondays, Frog's Boys will be missing a familiar face on Tuesdays, and Clemson will have one less fan watching from home and keeping track of the championships. But knowing Henry, he would probably remind everyone that Clemson has a pretty good history, and that the next championship is always worth talking about.

He leaves behind a lifetime of memories and a legacy of love, laughter, and loyalty. His family and friends will miss his stories, his company, and the simple pleasure of knowing he was around. One of the last things he said was "my wife and sons are my biggest accomplishment." He talked often about how proud he was of the life his adult boys created, and the families they are raising. He died knowing his family and grandkids are 'set up for success' and have the loving support of a wide community he helped build who will carry on his legacy.

Henry lived life on his own terms, loved his people, stood by his Tigers, and made sure retirement was done right.

He will be deeply missed, forever loved, and always remembered. And if there is a lake in heaven, we can be pretty sure Henry has already found the best spot to park his houseboat.

The family will receive friends on Monday, October 19, 2026, from 12:00-1:30 pm at The McDougald Funeral Home. A graveside service with military honors will follow at 2:00 pm at Forest Lawn Memorial Park.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Tunnels to Towers Foundation, 2361 Hylan Blvd. Staten Island, N.Y. 10306, or Lutheran Hospice, 1011 Grove Rd, Bldg. A Suite 3, Greenville, S.C. 29605.