Obituary of John R. Flinsbaugh

John R. Flinsbaugh was born March 4, 1931 in Oklahoma City to John William and Hazel Faye (Sweet) Flinsbaugh. He passed from this life Tuesday, August 30, 2016 at the age of 85. He was a 1950 graduate of Capitol Hill High School. After graduating, he served in the US Army, 7th Infantry Division during the Korean War where he rose to the rank of Staff Sergent. He was awarded the Korean Service Medal, United Nations Korean Medal and the Army Commendation Medal for acts of heroism. After his service to his country, John worked with his father in the insulation business. Soon after working in the field, he became an estimator and a respected project manager. He was member of Oklahoma City Asbestos Workers Local Union No. 94 since 1950. John met his wife, Julia when he hired her to work as a secretary at Standard Asbestos. They were married in Dec 1961 and had three children; Jack, David and Johnna. John, Julia and their first two children moved to Dallas 1965, where he partnered in an insulation company. Three years later, the family moved to Wichita, KS where their third child, Johnna was born. John moved the family to Tulsa in 1977 when he went to work for Insulation Services, Inc. where he worked for 20 years. After that company sold, John moved to Waverly, TN and then to St Joseph, MI for a short time. He returned to Tulsa in 1990. John retired at the age of 62 and spent his 60’s in a fishing boat on lakes all over Oklahoma and Arkansas. He said that these were the best years of his life. He caught a 20# striper that he was so proud of that he had it mounted to hang on his living room wall. It was a most prized possession. John also enjoyed model ship building and joined the Tulsa Ship Modelers Club in the early 90’s. He was very proud of his creations and his model of the Victory Ship is on display at the Bank of Oklahoma building at 61st & Yale. In the late 90’s, John was diagnosed with Asbestosis which required the constant use of oxygen. John lived a good clean life, showing his children about respect and obligations to their loved ones, work and life. John was proceeded in death by his parents and his sons, David and Jack Flinsbaugh. He is survived by his wife, Julia Gant of Oklahoma City; his daughter, Johnna Knapp of Tulsa; his brother, Richard Flinsbaugh of Edmond; daughter-in-law Linda Flinsbaugh of San Jose, CA; grandchildren, Jesse Collins of LaPorte CO, Jamie Knapp of Tulsa, Mary, David, Caleb and Joshua Flinsbaugh all of San Jose, California.