- Date Of Birth: August 10, 1927
- Date Of Death: August 3, 2015
- State: Florida
Leonard E. Flynn, Jr., passed away peacefully on Monday, August 3, 2015, in Tallahassee, Florida. Leonard loved his Lord Jesus Christ, his family, his church, and many friends.
His life exemplified the true joy only found through his faith in accepting Jesus Christ as his personal Lord and Savior. His smile was contagious and his interactions with others were inspiring. Active in Christian service most of his adult life, Leonard was an ordained deacon, taught adult Sunday School classes, and volunteered his carpentry skills to others in need through his church outreach program. He sang in church choirs and Gospel quartets. After his professional retirement, Leonard volunteered over 20 years at numerous assisted living facilities and nursing homes, playing his guitar and singing Gospel music. He was a member of Immanuel Baptist Church.
Born in Kokomo, Indiana, on August 10, 1927, to Leonard E. and Eva Flynn, Leonard moved to Florida as a teenager. While managing several service stations, he graduated from Hillsborough County High School and Brewster Vocational School in automobile mechanics in Tampa, Florida. Leonard was also employed by a bread company and made deliveries to a grocery store in St. Petersburg, Florida. He exchanged love notes in the bread box with the grocer’s daughter, Kathryn (Kay), who, after a fairy tale courtship, became Leonard’s loving wife of over 64 years. Shortly after marriage, Leonard honorably served in the U.S. Coast Guard for 3 years and was awarded the Good Conduct Medal as an Engineman Second Class. After active duty in the Coast Guard, Leonard and Kay returned to St. Petersburg, Florida where he owned and managed several service stations. Leonard and Kay were blessed with twin daughters and one son, who were Leonard’s apples of his eyes. It was often said that Leonard wished so hard for a little girl that God gave him twin girls.
After obtaining a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration from the University of Tampa, Leonard enjoyed a successful career of 27 years with the Florida Department of Corrections. He first worked in the district office in St. Petersburg and then later accepted a promotion in the Tallahassee office in 1968 as Director of Community Services. Leonard retired in 1988 as Probation and Parole Program Director. He was respected by all with whom he had contact. Leonard enjoyed spending time with his family, going on family vacations, and attending FSU football and baseball games with his son Danny. He was proud of the house he built for Kay and himself over 30 years ago and enjoyed working in his yard. Leonard also had fun playing softball on church leagues and coaching Little League Baseball. In addition to his beloved wife, Kay, Leonard is survived by his twin daughters Linda Gross (Ray) and Debbie Hightower (Ed), his son Danny Flynn (Dianne), four nieces, and his half-brother Robert Flynn (Sandra). Leonard was the proud grandfather of 10 grandchildren and 20 great-grandchildren plus one on-the-way.
Leonard was predeceased by his parents and his sister Eilleen Rowe. The family thanks the professional and caring staff at the St. Augustine Memory Care Center for their loving and personal care along with the committed care of Big Bend Hospice.
