Richard Flanigan former resident of Fairfax dies at 101 years

Richard S. Flanigan

Palatka, FL - RICHARD S. FLANIGAN, 101, passed away at Vintage Care Senior Living in Palatka Florida Tuesday afternoon, December 29, 2020 after an extended illness. Mr. Flanigan was born in the midst of the global Spanish flu epidemic at the Failing-Flanigan Farm in Canajoharie, New York on 5/4/1919. He was the son of Winfield I. Flanigan and Elnora Failing Flanigan In 1942 he married his first love, Harriet Lois Wiles of Ames, New York. His daughter Stephanie Alice Woods was born in 1943. In 1944 he was called to serve in the US Army just as WW II was ending in Europe. When his tour of duty ended In 1946 he entered Clarkson University where he earned a bachelors' degree in mechanical engineering in 1950. His son Philip Stuart Flanigan was born in 1947 in Malone, NY. Richard spent most of his engineering career at IBM, both in Poughkeepsie, NY and in Essex Junction, Vermont where he was Manager of Facilities Engineering. He and Harriet lived in Essex Junction, then built a house on Goose Pond Road in Fairfax, and then moved to a mobile home in Bolton, VT where they would travel to Jamaica, Islamorada, Seville, and then Crescent City, Florida to escape the winters. However, at heart he was a farmer turned gardener and after his retirement in 1984 he could be found handing out zucchinis, helping neighbors, entertaining grandchildren, attending church, or traveling to escape the cold of winter. After his wife Harriet died in 1997, Richard moved to Florida full-time. In 2000 he married Caroline Kooy Miller and lived in Satsuma. He and Carol were members of the Trinity Methodist Church in Seville Florida where they began, managed and supported the Helping Hands Food Bank, loading and unloading loads of food even when he was in his 90's. Their friend, Donna Darling, described him as a tall man who smiled a lot and conversed easily with everyone. He was an active member of the United Methodist Men's group at Trinity. In April 2019, at the age of 100, he was honored by the American Legion in Palatka at Post 45's 100th year celebration. Captain Dominic Piscitello of the Putnam Sheriff's office gave Richard and Carol a surprise escort to the celebration. He was very honored to be celebrated and both he and Carol had a grand time. The progression of dementia led to his move to assisted living later in 2019. Carol was at his side when he passed peacefully at Vintage Care. Again in the midst of a pandemic. Richard was preceded in death by his beloved sisters Ruth Alice Winsman Frederick, Jean Emily Wetherbee, and Fay Carol Dollard. He is survived by his son, Philip Stuart Flanigan of South Burlington, VT and daughter, Stephanie Alice Woods of South Hero, VT; three grandchildren, Christopher Stuart Flanigan, of Fairfax, VT, Kristin Aileen Cordner Decatur of South Hero, VT, and Geoffrey Michael Cordner of Kilarney, Ireland; Nine Great Grandchildren and three greatgreat grandchildren and dozens of nieces and nephews and cousins. Because of health concerns, memorial services will be held in Florida and Ames, NY at later dates. Arrangements by Clayton, Frank & Biggs Funeral Home, Crescent City, Florida.