Ronald L. Felling

Ronald Lee Felling, age 86, of Bloomington, Indiana, passed away Tuesday, May 5, 2026, in Bloomington, Indiana. He was born January 11, 1940, in Terre Haute, Indiana, the son of Henry “Hank” C. Felling and Mary Ruth Leach Felling. He was married to Irene Kassebaum from 1961-1981, and she survives. They had three children, Lana “Lori”, Chance and Shane. He married Camilla “Cammy” Gowen December 19, 2008, and she survives.

Ron was a legendary figure in the world of athletics, dedicating his life to teaching, coaching, and mentoring young people. His first teaching jobs were at Calumet Township and Merrillville High Schools in Gary, Indiana having coached NBA and Olympic Coach Gregg Popovich as a youngster. He taught Physical Education and Driver’s Education courses at Lawrenceville High School and devoted many years to coaching, serving initially as Freshman and JV boys’ basketball and then as Head Basketball Coach, Head Baseball Coach, Assistant Football Coach, and Athletic Director. His impact on student-athletes and the community was profound and lasting.

A gifted athlete in his own right, Ron played baseball and basketball at Glenn High School in East Glenn, Indiana, before continuing his athletic career at Indiana State University in Terre Haute in both of those sports. He was named MVP of the 1955 Babe Ruth Baseball League team in Terre Haute that captured both the Indiana State Championship and the National Championship. He was a member of the Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity at ISU. He completed his student teaching under the legendary Indiana High School Basketball Coach Howard Sharpe. During this time, he was also a licensed baseball official. He also played semi-professional basketball with the Gary Whips from 1961-1962 in Gary, Indiana.

Ron was widely known for his outgoing personality and ability to connect with others. No matter where he traveled, he was sure to encounter someone who knew him or had heard of him and the great Lawrenceville basketball teams he led. His coaching career at Lawrenceville spanned 22 years, including 16 years as Head Coach, where he compiled an extraordinary record of 388 wins and 77 losses. Under his leadership, Lawrenceville captured Class A State Championships in 1972, 1974, 1982, and 1983, along with a third-place finish in 1976. His back-to-back championship teams in 1982 and 1983 achieved a perfect 68–0 record, a mark that still stands today. Ron also secured 12 Regional titles, 7 Sectional titles, and 5 Super-Sectional championships.

Throughout his career, Ron earned numerous honors, including being named IBCA Coach of the Year ten times and Central & Southern Illinois Coach of the Year five times. He was named Illinois Basketball Coach of the Year in 1972 and 1982. He made history as the first coach in Illinois basketball to win four state titles. He coached 12 All-State players and, on four occasions, guided the state’s leading scorer. In recognition of his remarkable achievements, Ron was inducted into the Illinois Basketball Hall of Fame and was selected as one of the “100 Legends of the IHSA Boys Basketball Tournament.” He was also a member of the inaugural classes of the LTHS/LHS Athletic Hall of Fame and the Greater Evansville Sports Hall of Fame, and was inducted into the Illinois Sports Hall of Fame.

Ron received the Indiana State University Outstanding Alumni award in 1974 and 1989. He received the Tom Hanson Memorial Award (an award for the person who accomplished the most in sports in Illinois) in 1972.

Ron served on the Board of Directors of IBCA. He served as a scout for the U.S. Olympic Basketball team in Madrid, Spain in 1983. Ron held memberships in the Lawrenceville Elks for 64 years, Sons of the American Legion, Squadron 18, Burton Woolery Post 18 in Bloomington, Indiana, Moose Lodge 1081 in Bloomington, Indiana, and Freemasons Ellettsville, Indiana Lodge 245.

Ron’s contributions extended beyond the high school level. He founded the Jr. Pro basketball program in Lawrenceville, assisted with scorekeeping for local Elks Hoop Shoots, coached summer traveling baseball teams, and established the Ron Felling Basketball Camps, which ran for 36 years at Lawrenceville High School and an additional two years at Red Hill High School and also held successful basketball camps at Nazareth Academy in Chicago for many years as well as traveling to clinics all across the U.S. to instruct coaches on the art of shooting. From 1985 to 1999, Ron served as an Assistant Basketball Coach under Head Coach Bob Knight at Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana. During his tenure, the Hoosiers captured the 1987 NCAA National Championship and four Big Ten Championships.

Above all, Ron will be remembered not only for his extraordinary accomplishments, but for the countless lives he influenced, the friendships he formed, and the legacy he leaves behind in the world of sports and his community.

Preceding Ron in death were his parents, two infant twin sons, one grandson, Avery Felling.

Survivors include: his wife, Cammy; children, Lana “Lori” (Matt) Stone of Evansville, Indiana, Chance (Marilyn) Felling of Indianapolis, Indiana, Shane Felling (Andrea Lagow) of Indianapolis, Indiana; six grandchildren, George (Quincy) Stone, Grace Stone, Atticus (Jaquelyn) Felling, Samantha (fiancé Gabriel Ortiz) Felling, Wyatt Felling, Maryrose Felling; four great-grandchildren, Edmund “Eddie” Stone, Susanna “Susie” Stone, Henry Felling, Sebastian Felling; and several cousins.

The family would like to express their appreciation to Southern Care Hospice and staff for their excellent care of Ron for the last ten months, Doctors Jamie Bales, Larry Rink, Roxanne Rajaii, and Patrick Dunigan for the many years of personal attention.

Visitation will be held at The Funeral Chapel, 3000 E. 3rd Street, Bloomington, Indiana, on Wednesday, May 13, 2026, from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Indiana time.

Funeral services will be Friday, May 15, 2026, 2:00 p.m. (Illinois time) at Central Christian Church, 303 Buchanan Drive, Lawrenceville, Illinois. Visitation will be 10:00 a.m. till the service hour of 2:00 p.m. Burial will be in the Lawrenceville City Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to LTHS/LHS Sports Hall of Fame, Sons of American Legion, Squadron 18, Burton Woolery Post 18 of Bloomington, Indiana, Wounded Warrior Project, Tunnel to Towers, Shriners Hospital for Children or charity of donor’s choice.