Mourners remember longtime Lakeland mayor Ralph 'Buddy' Fletcher

LAKELAND - Lakeland laid one of its favorite patriarchs to rest Tuesday.

Ralph "Buddy" Fletcher, who served as mayor from 1992 to 2010, was remembered for his love for the city, an infectious personality and his ability to make friends.

"He could relate to everyone," current Lakeland Mayor Howard Wiggs said during a funeral service attended by hundreds at First Baptist Church at the Mall. "He was equally comfortable sitting down with Mr. George (George W. Jenkins, who founded Publix Super Markets) as he was sitting down with folks recently off the watermelon truck from Mulberry....like me."

Fletcher, who had suffered from dementia for several years, died July 25 from complications related to a stroke. He was 84.

In addition to Wiggs, numerous local and state lawmakers attended the service, including Florida Supreme Court Justice Charles Canady, current and former Lakeland city commissioners, Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd, County Commissioner George Lindsey and State Rep. Neil Combee.

The Rev. Gene Wells introduced the two speakers for the service, Wiggs and developer Joe P. Ruthven, also a former mayor.

Ruthven recounted stories of trips he and his wife took with Fletcher and his wife, Weetsie. He also talked about overseeing his numerous political campaigns.

"He didn't want to raise money for his campaign," Ruthven said. "But he was so popular, seldom did anyone ever turn me down."

"We are lucky Buddy Fletcher was our buddy," Ruthven said, noting one of Fletcher's campaign signs that read, "Who's Your Buddy."

Fletcher won election to the Lakeland City Commission in 1988, the same year Frank O’Reilly became Lakeland’s first elected mayor after decades of appointed leaders. In 1992, O’Reilly left the job to make an unsuccessful run for Congress, and Fletcher became mayor without opposition.

Fletcher defeated O’Reilly to win re-election in 1996, won without opposition in 2000 and easily defeated two challengers in 2005.

"If I had to lose, I was glad it was to Buddy," O'Reilly said after the funeral. "For Buddy, it was never what's good for me, but always what's best for Lakeland."

Glenn Higgins, a pallbearer and former city commissioner who served with Fletcher, said before the funeral that Lakeland residents loved the mayor.

"Whenever he was on the Christmas float, everyone would yell, 'Hey Buddy,'" Higgins said. "You felt a little inferior after a while."

Fletcher, born in 1932, came from a humble background. As mayor, he was known for bringing decorum and politeness to the seat.

"He would really make sure everyone got along," former City Commissioner Jim Verplanck said.

Wiggs spoke during the service about a time when Fletcher became concerned about all the wrangling on the commission.

He organized a meeting to help build a rapport among commissioners.

"We were asked to open up and speak about personal thoughts," Wiggs said. "As part of his story, Buddy shared that he had lost two sons to cancer and as most of you know, eventually lost all three."

Wiggs said Fletcher told his colleagues that he regretted not spending more time with his family because he worked so much.

"As Buddy spoke, he began to cry, really cry," Wiggs said. "I don't think there was a dry eye in the room."

Wiggs said he attempted to console Fletcher after the meeting.

"I said, 'Buddy, for most men around our age, we measure much of our value by our ability to provide for the people we love,'" Wiggs said.

Fletcher saw much success in his life. He formed a successful real-estate company, Arch Inc., and headed Fletcher Printing Co., a chain of printing shops in Polk County.

But he also saw much pain.

He and Weetsie buried three of their four children.

In 1987, just as Fletcher was gearing up to run for the City Commission, the couple’s youngest son, Brian, died of Hodgkin’s disease, a form of cancer. He was 26.

Eight years later, cancer of the lungs and pancreas claimed Mark Fletcher. He was 37. In 2008, the Fletchers’ remaining son, Phil, died of lung cancer at 51. The Fletchers’ lone surviving child is Ellen Huey.

After Wiggs and Ruthven spoke, Wells ended the service. He said  Fletcher encountered much adversity, but always "remained confident in God's love."

Pallbearers then guided the coffin to a hearse. Fletcher was buried at Oak Hill Burial Park on U.S. 98 South.

John Chambliss can be reached at john.chambliss@theledger.com or 863-802-7588.