Russell Clyde Flowers

Russell Clyde Flowers, 90, a resident of Dothan, passed away on Wednesday, January 18, 2017 while at Westside Terrace Health and Rehab Center.

His life will be celebrated at 3 pm on Saturday, January 21, 2017 in Sunset Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Hays McKay officiating. Burial with military honors will follow in Sunset Memorial Park. The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Saturday from 2-3 pm. Memorials may be made to the Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University, Atlanta GA.

Clyde was born on December 31, 1926 in Bellaire, Ohio, the son of Albert Goff and Edith Mae (Littleton) Flowers. He married Dorothy Workman on July 19, 1947 and their partnership remained strong for nearly 70 years. Their greatest joy as a couple was sharing life with their grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

At 17 and fresh out of high school, Clyde joined the Navy on June 2, 1944. He served during World War II in the Asia-Pacific region and participated in the liberation of the Philippine Islands. He received his honorable discharge July 19, 1946. His military service to his country during the war was one of his proudest achievements. His goal late in life was to become the oldest living WW II veteran and he probably came within a few years of reaching that goal.

After the war Clyde ventured out to Pittsburgh to become manager of a Coca-Cola bottling plant. Over the years he managed soft drink plants in Aurora IL, New Orleans, Jackson MS, and Dothan as better opportunities presented themselves. Clyde always remained positive with an uncanny ability to keep looking forward with excitement, confidence and faith in God. He believed God would steer him in the right direction as long as he had the faith to take the first step, even if it was heading into uncharted waters. He was never afraid to try something new.

Clyde and Dot loved square dancing, ballroom dancing, all kinds of dancing and this kept them in tiptop shape for many years. They would travel hundreds of miles with friends to get to the best dances. They danced at every one of their grandchildren’s weddings, showing skills the rest of us could only dream about. Clyde also loved golf and would play several times per week with friends. He never wanted technology to pass him by so until the end he was texting, trying new apps, and sometimes defying logic by telling his grandchildren something he had learned that they had not. If he didn’t know how to do something he would research it, call helplines, or find some other way to figure it out. In so many ways he was a great role model for his entire family.

Clyde is survived by his wife Dot, of Dothan; son Russell Clyde (Sarah Fran) of Newville; 2 daughters, Jeanene (Rick) Stephens of Champaign, IL and Penny (Joseph) Nelson of Hinckley, IL; a brother, Pete (Maureen) of Bellaire, OH; a sister, Emma Lou Gibbs of Valdosta, GA; 6 grandchildren, Joseph (Katie) Nelson, Lori (Dave Gawel) Nelson, Jennifer (Steve) Wernsman, Jill (Mike) Kellner, Carolyn (Brad) Barker, and Margaret (Joel) Bokelman; and 16 great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents; 2 brothers, Albert (Abby) and Richard (Putt); and 2 sisters, Marie Dougherty and Evelyn Rejonis.