William Flynn's Obituary
William J. Flynn, better known as Bill, was born in Yonkers, New York on September 9th 1938, to parents John F. Flynn and Celestine M. Sullivan. He arrived two years after his sister Betty and three before his brother John, and spent his childhood in the Bronx.
The day he saw a jet airplane speed down the blue corridor of sky between the rows of buildings, his fate as a future pilot was sealed. He broke with the family’s Naval legacy and applied to the Air Force Academy, graduating in 1963 at the top of his class. He would go on to become an instructor pilot at Vance Air Force Base in Enid, Oklahoma, teaching his “Blue Checkers” how to fly. Those memories would remain a highlight of his life. Spending time with Bill would earn you at least one story from his flying days, from the barrel roll rejoin to the high speed, low altitude approach that nearly broke both the sound barrier and every window in the control tower. He would always recall the moment he climbed high enough to see the blackness of space beyond the blue curvature of Earth’s atmosphere, and the awe and humility it inspired.
After leaving the Air Force in 1970, he earned his M.E.D. in Rehabilitation Counselling from UT Austin. He became the resident counsellor and later director of the Career and Guidance Center, a residential facility providing total living services for disabled adults. His advocacy for the disabled community would earn him a place at the Washington DC conference that would result in the drafting of the Americans with Disabilities Act.
During his time in Austin he met Pamela Luttrell, a future geologist also studying at UT. They married in 1980, and three years later had a child, Aaron, born while stationed abroad for Pam’s work with Mobil Oil. Over the next fifteen years the three of them traveled to Norway, Germany, and Virginia before settling in Dallas, Texas. Bill continued his work with the CGC, became the beloved first male member of the Mobil Wives Club, and began performing onstage. The seed that was planted by a chance meeting with Helen Hayes in his childhood germinated as a hobby and grew into an acting career, first in theater and later in film, TV and voiceover. He would accumulate a long list of credits playing a variety of roles that established him as a respected member of the Dallas acting community.
Bill was a born teacher, whether as an instructor pilot, staff educator at the Texas Rehabilitation Commission, conversational English tutor in Germany, or his “Care and Feeding of Actors” series of seminars. The list of people who consider him a mentor is long and varied, and his encouragement launched and supported many others’ careers. His warmth, humor, and strength of character were second to none. He is survived by his sister Betty, brother John, and son Aaron. A memorial service will be held at 10:30 am on Saturday, August 16 at Restland Memorial Chapel to honor his memory and legacy. As a new sky opens to you, Dad, fly high, keep a good mach, and check your six
What’s your fondest memory of William?
What’s a lesson you learned from William?
Share a story where William's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with William you’ll never forget.
How did William make you smile?