William Flippin

William Harold Flippin, 88, of Anchorage, Alaska passed away peacefully in his sleep on February 28, 2013 at Providence Cottages. He was born March 19th, 1924 in Littlefield, Texas to the late Henry and Clara Gray Flippin. He grew up in the Snyder, Texas area where he learned the plumbing and pipefitting trades. He received his master plumbers' license in October 1949. William was a member of the United Association of Plumbers and Steamfitters for over 35 years. William worked out of local 598 in Washington and Local 367 in Anchorage, Alaska. In June 27, 1942 William enlisted in the Army to serve his country. He served in the 82nd airborne in the 466th Parachute Field Artillery battalion. He was involved in several campaigns in the European theater including Normandy, Sicily, Central Europe, and Ardennes. He earned an EAME Campaign Medal with 6 Bronze Stars and a Purple Heart. William was honorable discharged on September 25, 1945. William also was stationed in Fort Lewis Washington from 1957 to 1958. William first came to Alaska in 1963 for plumbing work on Kodiak Island and was there for the 1964 earthquake. He also worked on the Trans-Alaska Pipeline in the 1970's. He also had an interest in farming which took him to Yakima Washington in the 1980s where he worked out of local 598 at the Hanford Nuclear Facility and farmed over 100 acres of alfalfa with his wife Judi and sons Travis and Byron. He returned to Alaska to live out his years in September 2005. William was good natured and good humored and loved playing dominoes and riding around the state of Alaska with his son Byron and his wife Tina. He will be sorely missed by all who knew hand loved him.

William was preceded in death by his parents; 12 siblings, and grandson Glen Barnes. He is survived by his brother Gene flippin of texas; 2 daughters Saunna Flippin and Colleen Brechbiel both of Washington; 2 sons Byron Flippin and wife Tina Flippin ofAlaska, and Travis Flippin and wife Michelle Flippin of N. Carolina. He is also survived by grandsons Brian Barnes and wife Kandace of Washington, Jeb Brechbiel of Washington, Byron and Graham Flippin of N. Carolina. William is also survived by granddaughter Nora Flippin of N. Carolina. Also survived by great-grandaughters Kate and Klaire Barnes of Washington.