THOMAS RAYMOND FLYNN

Thomas Raymond Flynn, age 89, a 16-year resident of Bullhead City, Ariz. died peacefully on Sunday, July 29, 2018 surrounded by family.

He was born on February 27, 1929 in Chicago, Ill., the second child of Thomas Vincent Flynn and Josephine Margaret (Lowe) Flynn. He attended Saint Peter Canisius, Saint Mel High School and Loyola University, all in Chicago. He received his Bachelor’s in business.

In 1952 he was drafted to the Army where he served as a non-commissioned officer at Camp Chaffee Army Training Base in Fort Smith, Ark. While there, he met Lila Jean Coffey. They were married in Fort Smith on January 16, 1954. He was honorably discharged from the Army in June 1954.

Once he was discharged, the couple relocated to Chicago. Tom went to work for Allstate Insurance Company at the home office in Skokie, Illinois. He held executive positions with Allstate in Wisconsin and California. He retired in February 1984. He was then employed by the Catholic Diocese of Orange, California as the Director of Insurance and Director of Cemeteries until 1998.

He was an American Civil War enthusiast. In June 1988 he attended the American Civil War Institute at Gettysburg College. He acquired and maintained a large home library of Civil War books. He donated his home library to the Arizona Civil War Council, Inc. While residing in Bullhead City, he enjoyed many potluck dinners and other activities with neighbors and friends at The Reserve at Fox Creek. He and his good friend Ron Finn attended many Bullhead City Council meetings, sitting in the front row. They enjoyed discussing City struggles and successes with Council members. He was an avid reader of numerous newspapers and other written materials. Reading was a past-time he shared with his wife. He enjoyed trading books with family and friends. He was a regular and made many friends at Cardiac Rehab at Western Arizona Regional Medical Center.

He was preceded in death by his parents and his wife.

Thomas is survived by his daughter, Mary Catherine (Alan) Herring of Holbrook, Ariz.; son, John Riley (Barbara) Flynn of Phoenix, Ariz.; sister, Patricia Ann Royals of Boyds, Md; three grandchildren, Erin Tyler of Gilbert, Ariz., Sean Tyler of Goodyear, Ariz.and Christina Flynn of Phoenix, Ariz.; six great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.
He was a life-long Catholic and member of Saint Margaret Mary Church. A rosary and funeral Mass are scheduled at the Church at 11:00 am on Friday, August 10, 2018 for him and his wife, Lila Jean Flynn, who died June 28, 2018.

Internment for Thomas and Lila will be with military honors at the National Cemetery in Phoenix at 9:00 am on Monday, August 20, 2018.

In lieu of flowers, please send donations to Beacon of Hope Hospice in Bullhead City. Arrangements are under the direction of Desert Lawn Funeral Home of Bullhead City.

9250 South Ranchero Lane Mohave Valley, AZ 86440
2724 Silver Creek Road Bullhead City, AZ 86442
Phone: 928-768-5959 Fax: 928-768-5999
www.desertlawnfuneralhome.com