Obituary of William C. Flynn

William C. Flynn was raised in the small town of Osakis, Minnesota. He lost his father to Leukemia at an early age and, facing financial hardship, his mother moved them to Seattle to live with Bill’s grandfather when Bill was 15. At Lincoln High School, he met Charlene Flynn (no relation), whom he sat right next to in Study Hall due to the alphabetical seating policy. Charlene asked him to a dance and the rest was history. At the age of 20, he married Charlene, age 19, who would be his bride for the rest of his life. They were married in New York on a television program called “Bride and Groom.” The video of this television show is both endearing and hilarious and is a family treasure. At the onset of the Korean War, he volunteered into the Navy and served at Sandpoint Naval Base in Seattle. After his service, he attended the University of Washington where he earned his degree in Civil Engineering. Early on, he worked for the Corps of Engineers and the Port of Seattle. Later, as children started entering the picture, he and Charlene moved the family to Olympia. There he was an engineer for the Port of Olympia for several years, followed by a shorter stint at the ill-fated WPPSS nuclear power plant construction project in Satsop, and later as a project engineer for the State of Washington. After retiring from the State, he continued to work as an independent consultant engineer until he was nearly 80. Engineering was in his blood, and he always had a pocketful of pens and pencils at the ready for explanatory diagrams and spontaneous calculations. As an only child (as was Charlene), he was very proud of his large family. Bill was fond of telling everyone who would listen of his and Charlene’s determination to eventually have a daughter, which was only achieved after first having three boys. He would count out on his fingers, “boy, boy, boy, GIRL!” He was a very supportive parent, playing catch, riding bikes, helping with homework, and attending an untold number of recitals and sporting events. When his children married and then grandchildren came along, he was equally supportive of his extended family. Bill could be quite a character and enjoyed good humor. He had an uncommon ability to relate almost any occurrence in daily life to a Seinfeld episode. He also liked to collect cheap flashlights from Harbor Freight Tools and then hand them out to visitors as a parting gift. He loved boating in Puget Sound and around the San Juan Islands, and owned several different boats over the years. Ever the engineer, he seemed to enjoy researching, planning, and prepping for his boating adventures as much as he relished his time on the water. He and Charlene vacationed to Hawaii many times over the years and they also took trips to Mexico, Ireland and the Panama Canal. Bill was irrepressibly good natured and friendly, and enjoyed his morning newspaper and evening cocktail. He also loved desserts, feeding the backyard squirrels and birds, watching Husky football, napping in the sun, and playing bridge with good friends. It was difficult to watch in his last few years how dementia dulled his once sharp mind, and cancer ravaged his once strong body. But the man we remember is the one who always wanted to take care of his family, built his own houses (and houses for his kids), did calculations in his head, explored the Sound on his boat, and who was married for over 65 years to our favorite lady. Bill is survived by his wife Charlene, sons Mark (Kim) Flynn, Blake (Deborah) Flynn, and Todd (Katherine) Flynn, daughter Lisa (Rick) Ellis, seven grandchildren, and three great grandchildren. He will be missed by all. Please leave memories of Bill or condolences for his family in the Guestbook below.