Richard Cleat “Rick” Phares Jr., 72, of Riverton passed away on Sept. 30, 2026, at Winchester Regional Medical Center in Winchester, Virginia.
Born Dec. 25, 1953, in Canton, Ohio, he was the son of the late Richard Phares and Ruth Sites Phares.
Mr. Phares graduated in 1971 from Circleville High School where he played basketball, football and baseball. He was a star basketball player, averaging 30 points a game his senior year, which was the highest average in the tri-state area.
He received a scholarship to play basketball at West Virginia Wesleyan College in Buckhannon. He was a member of the KA Fraternity and graduated with a bachelor of science degree in business administration.
He lived in Moorefield and Staunton, Virginia, where he was in the laundromat business for several years and ultimately moved back to West Virginia where he worked on the farms and in the masonry business.
He leaves behind to cherish his memory two sons, Richard Cleat Phares III (Katie Sullivan) of Riverton and Pete Layne of Morgantown; three sisters Dr. Pamela P. Kulback and husband, Steven of Birmingham, Alabama, Kimberely L. Godwin and husband, John of Morgantown and Sonnee D. Shomo and husband, Chad of Swoope, Virginia; a brother, Jerry Phares and wife, Kitty of Petersburg; and a grandchild “on the way,” Blaine.
A funeral service was held Saturday in the chapel of the Basagic Funeral Home in Franklin with Pastor James Phares officiating. Interment was at the North Fork Memorial Cemetery in Riverton.
Memorials may be made to North Fork Fire Department or Seneca Rocks Fire Department.
Memories and words of comfort may be left at www.basagic.com or on Facebook at Basagic Funeral Home.
