Edward Lee Flint

Edward Lee Flint departed this life on March 13, 2025, at UNC Rex after finally succumbing to heart disease that had plagued him many years. Although his heart was ill, it was big. He leaves behind a legacy of selfless service to his country, family, and an infinite number of friends, as he never met a stranger.
He was born in Wilmington, Ohio on November 5, 1937, and was the son of the late John and Martha Flint, and his grandparents, who raised him, Mame and William (Bill) Flint.
Ed is also preceded in death by his loving wife of 55 years, Wilma Jean Flint; his first wife, Johnna Hutson (mother of his children); brother, Jim Flint (wife, Marian); daughter, Coleen Donahue (husband, Tom); sons, Gary and Tommy Flint; and daughter, Sheila (husband, Gale).
He is survived by his current spouse, love and companion, Helene Kaley; brother, Nelson Hilling (wife Pat); sister, Karen Flint-Smith; daughters, Joyce Flint Bond (husband, Brett), Julie Flint, Jeannette "Joan" Tellinghuisen (husband, Richard), Kathy Mason (husband, Carl Hanke); step-daughter, Beth Clark (husband, Rich); son, Edward "Butch" Flint (wife, Cindy); step-son, Matthew Kaley (wife, Carolina); and step-son, Andrew Kaley. 20 grandchildren and a host of great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. Ed also leaves behind some dear friends, David Gray, Terry Dixon, and Ken Spade, whom he has always maintained contact with for years. We cannot forget his second family at the StoneRidge Retirement facility where he resided and his dear friends, Virginia Shaw and Sallie Ray Wilkerson.
An accomplished Green Beret Paratrooper, Ed served his country with pride and was a retired Special Forces Company Sergeant Major after enlisting in December 1954 and served until December 1958. He then reenlisted in December 1960 where he served until his honorable discharge on December 31, 1981. His Army life took him on many excursions and allowed him to receive training and expertise in many areas. He served in the Vietnam War from July 1968 - July 1969 where, unbeknown to him, his brother, Nelson, a Lt. Commander in the Navy, was also serving our country. After his deployment to Vietnam, he spent time in Germany, South Carolina, and Colorado to name a few, until he finally got back to Ft. Bragg, NC until his eventual retirement from the military.
In his words "I was never a Hero" but to many of us he was. While serving his country he received the Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal w/Oak Leaf Cluster, Army Commendation Medal, Good Conduct Medal 6th Award, Vietnam Cross of Gallantry w/Palm, Vietnam Service Medal with 4 Campaign Stars, Combat Infantry Badge, Meritorious Unit Commendation, Vietnam Civil Action Honor Medal 1st Class, and Master Parachute Badge.
Of his greatest accomplishments, swimming the English Channel (and completing it) was one of his most memorable ones. He led a team of swimmers, Operational Detachment A-9, Company B 1st Battalion 10th Special Forces Group Airborne on a swim across the English Canal starting from Shakespeare Beach, Dover at 19.33 hours, arriving at Wissant, France at 0809 hours on August 24, 1977 in an average time of 13 hours 10 minutes.
After retirement from the Army with 25 years of service to the United States, he went to work for the Federal Government once again on the civilian side where he worked for the U.S. Postal Service for 18 ½ years before his retirement in 2000.
Ed's work however was not done, and he began doing his own work in his garage building and selling custom bird houses that are distributed in many states. His last hobby was making custom jewelry that he would give away abundantly to the many people he would come in contact with. Every Stoneridge lady would get one of his masterpieces, or many of them, to wear. But it didn't stop there, he would always carry some of them in his pocket when he went anywhere and freely give to someone he would encounter. There are no strangers in the world, only friends we haven't yet met.
The family would like to thank UNC Rex for the most recent care and compassion shown during his final hours. To his StoneRidge Retirement Family, thank you for loving, caring, and being a friend to Ed. He loved you all.
De Oppresso Liber, you did well Special Forces SGM Flint, you took it to your grave. Your work here is done, you are free.
"To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord", 2 Corinthians 5:8
Graveside services and full military honors are incomplete at this time.
Funeral arrangements by Jernigan-Warren Funeral Home, 545 Ramsey St. Fayetteville, N.C. 28301
Online condolences may be made at www.jerniganwarren.com
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