John Callahan Flynn, beloved husband of Elizabeth (Betsy) Flynn, of Strong Farms Lane, South Hadley passed away peacefully, surrounded by family at Holyoke Hospital on January 18th, 2022. He is the son of Charles Daniel Flynn and Clara Eve Flynn (Callahan). He is reunited with his beloved wife, Elizabeth H. Flynn, who passed away in September, 2019. They met at a YMCA dance in Greenfield MA in 1950 and married at St. James Church in Deerfield MA in 1955. He graduated from Deerfield Academy, the University of Massachusetts Engineering School and the University of Southern California Masters in Systems Management. He served in the United States Air Force, graduating from cadets school in 1955. He was with the C124 Globemasters/15th Troop Carrier Squadron, serving as a navigator until he separated from the Air Force in 1958. After the service, he worked as an engineer for 37 years at the Tennessee Valley Authority, General Dynamics, and General Public Utilities. Their life journey took them to Greenville South Carolina; Knoxville, Tennessee; Frankfurt, Germany; Muscle Shoals, Alabama; Groton, Connecticut; Mountain Lakes, New Jersey; settling in South Hadley, MA. Among other things, John and Betsy enjoyed attending the opera, Broadway shows, boxing matches in Greenfield, and the movies. They also enjoyed traveling in retirement years, and visited Ireland, Scotland, Greece, Germany, and the US parks of the Southwest. He was a parishioner of St. Patrick’s Catholic church in South Hadley. He was proud of his Irish heritage, a life-long Red Sox fan, and a great golfer. He even got a hole-in-one in the 1980’s. His sense of humor was appreciated by all, which he maintained even during his declining days. He was a faithful attendee to his grandchildren’s (Jack and Liam’s) sporting and extracurricular activities. John and Betsy were active members of the South Hadley Historic Society. He is survived by his son Steven Flynn, his grandchildren Jack and Liam Flynn, and sister Margaret Nylen. Calling hours are at O’Brien Family Funeral Home, 33 Lamb Street, South Hadley on Friday1/21 will be from 4-7pm. A Liturgy of Christian Burial will be held Saturday January 22, 2022 at St. Patrick’s Church in 30 Main Street, South Hadley, MA 01075 at 10 am. Donations can be made to Holyoke VNA Hospice Life Care, Pocumtuck Valley Memorial Association, or the charity of your choice. Burial services will be held in the spring of 2022. For more information please go to obrienfamilyfh.com.
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