John Edward Flynn, 77, of Oil City, Pennsylvania passed away unexpectedly on Monday, March 25, 2024 at UPMC Passavant McCandless Hospital due to complications from an extended illness.
The son of the late John (Jack) F. Flynn and Phyllis M. Flynn, John was born on May 16, 1946 in Oil City, Pennsylvania.
John, also known as “Errol” to his classmates, attended Oil City High School and graduated in 1964.
He attended both Robert Morris University, Class of 1967 and Gannon University, Class of 1969 where he studied marketing and finance.
John was also a member of the TKE fraternity and enjoyed visiting both campuses and attending reunions.
John was the proud recipient of a 50-year alumni reunion medal at Robert Morris University for his continued support and love of this institution.
He was a member of the tennis and golf teams at both of these universities.
John was employed as a banker in the purchasing department of First Seneca Bank, which later became Integra Financial Corporation from 1969 until 1996.
John served as a member of the United States Army Reserves from 1968 until 1975.
John was a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Oil City.
John had been a member of the YMCA since age eight years and was proud to have served on the Board of the Directors of the YMCA for nine years.
John enjoyed playing racquetball with his friends and attending senior exercise classes.
John was an avid golfer and had been a member of Wanango Country Club since 1985 where he served on the Board of Directors for five years.
John was a member of the Masons Petrolia Lodge #363, as well as the Fryburg Sportsman’s Club.
In April 2013, John was ecstatic to have made his first “hole-in-one” at Wanango Country Club on Number 8 within 152 yards using a 5 iron.
He also played in various golf tournaments at Wanango and was elated to have won second place in a partner tournament in Fall 2023.
John was proud to have maintained an active lifestyle and had many interests and hobbies that he continued to practice throughout his life.
Some of these included fishing, boating and water-skiing with his father, as well as hunting with his beagles, country line dancing, skiing at Peek-n-Peak Resort, taking downhill skiing trips to the Western Rockies, and traveling to Ireland and California.
John is survived by his daughter Sharon Flynn and her husband, Martin Hilliard of Baltimore, Maryland as well as his daughter Bridget Sibley, her companion, Ross Workhoven, and grand-daughter Sophia Marie Sibley of Manhattan Beach, California as well as many cousins in Fredonia, PA and Detroit, MI.
One of John’s fondest memories was taking a guided trip through the country of Ireland in 2000 with his beloved daughters, Sharon and Bridget where he didn’t hesitate to kiss the Blarney stone, volunteer to get locked in the prison of an Irish castle or take the opportunity to golf while on the Emerald Isle.
You could often find John spending time with his family in Baltimore, Maryland and Manhattan Beach, California.
John would excitedly attend an Orioles baseball game and explore the Baltimore waterfront with his daughter and son-in-law, where he would gladly have a pint at The Cat’s Eye Pub and also enjoyed watching the flag ceremony at Fort McHenry.
While visiting his daughter and granddaughter in California you couldn’t stop John from biking miles up and down the coast to see the Santa Monica Pier, explore the beaches, and hang with his gang of friends that he made in the South Bay.
John was a social butterfly and definitely lived the “life of a Riley” by embodying a carefree and fun lifestyle.
John loved his friends and family.
Funeral arrangements are entrusted to Reinsel Funeral Home in Oil City where family and friends will be welcome from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday, March 28th.
Funeral Services will then be held at 2:00 P.M. in the funeral home.
Interment will be immediately after at Grove Hill Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations be made in John’s honor to the YMCA of Oil City or The First Presbyterian Church of Oil City.
Condolences may be sent at www.reinselfuneralhome.com.
