Richard L. Kline

Fairfield native and longtime local attorney Richard L. Kline, 81 (or 29,784 days), departed this life on Saturday, July 11, 2026, at 5:17 p.m. at Wabash General Hospital in Mt. Carmel, Illinois surrounded by his loving family after a short battle with cancer. He was born in Wayne County, Illinois, the son of Virgil Kenneth and Geneva Faye (Cannon) Kline on Christmas Day, December 25, 1944.

Mr. Kline graduated from Southern Illinois University-Carbondale with a Bachelor of Science degree in 1966. He was then in the first MBA program offered at SIU. Following employment with W R Grace in Peoria, Illinois, Mr. Kline attended the University of Tennessee at Knoxville and received his Juris Doctor degree in 1974. Mr. Kline began the practice of law with the law firm of Woodcock & Hux in Mt. Carmel, Illinois in 1974, later becoming a partner in the firm. He practiced at that location for approximately 30 years until he returned to his hometown of Fairfield, Illinois at Kline’s Corner where he continued the practice of law until his death.

Richard also farmed his entire life, beginning in late childhood with his brother, Kenneth, and owned and enjoyed harness racing horses for many years.

His many associations include, but are not limited to, the following: past Wabash County Republican County Chairman, past president of the Mt. Carmel Chamber of Commerce, past president of the Wayne County Fair Board, on the board of directors of Citizens National Bank until his retirement from that board, on the board of directors of Community Natural Gas, a member of the Illinois State Bar Association, a member of the local Elks Lodge, and a Kentucky Colonel.

Mr. Kline often reminisced about his foundational years at Beech Bluff School, a one-room school in Wayne County, Illinois.

Survivors include his life partner Sally Wilderman; his siblings, Norene Faye Young, Virginia Darlene Scott (Jefferson) Koonce, Josephine Hennelly, and Kenneth Duaine (Kathy) Kline; stepdaughters, Christy (Doug) McPherson and Keesha (Chad) Peterson; nieces and nephews, Karen Gregory, Carole Ann Breuer, Teresa (Richard) Wilson, Martha (Dan) Garrett, Steven Scott, Sheila (Barry) Prestridge, Stuart (Tanya) Koonce, Kenneth (Mary) Kline, Jr., Kimberly (Blake) Raney, and Kevin (Miranda) Kline; great niece and nephews, Carrie (Clint) Wick, Joseph (Lesia) Kuykendall, and Jonathan Kuykendall; step grandchildren, Ethan Peterson, Brayden (Carmen) Peterson, Trevor (Addison) Peterson, and Allie McPherson, and extended family, chosen family, dear friends, and colleagues. He was preceded in death by his sister, Dorothy Fern Meeks, his brothers-in-law, Delbert Young, Gayland Scott, and Edmund Hennelly; and his niece and nephew, Beverly Johnson and Robert Young.

Funeral services will be held on Friday, July 17th, 2026, at 1 PM at Johnson & Vaughn Funeral Home with Robert Hunt officiating. Visitation will be held from 11 AM until the time of service. Interment will follow the funeral service at Maple Hill Cemetery in Fairfield, Illinois. Memorials in his honor may be made to Union North C.P. Church or the Wayne County Fair and will be accepted at the funeral home.