Dr. David Roy Flinn, 86, passed away on Friday, November 3, 2023, in Newport News, Virginia.   He was born October 21, 1937, in Jennings, Oklahoma, to the late Royal Herbert Flinn and Clela Alice (Canfield) Flinn.  He was raised in Greenville, Texas, and married his high school sweetheart, Sarah J. Denton, on December 13, 1957, in Greenville.

David earned his Bachelor of Science Degree from East Texas State College in 1960, his Master of Education from East Texas State College in 1961, and his Doctor of Philosophy from North Texas State University in 1968.  He was also an instructor in math and chemistry at Ranger (Texas) Junior College and at North Texas State University in Denton, Texas.

A Postdoctoral research associate appointment from the National Research Council, US Naval Research Laboratory in Washington, DC, took David and his young family to Maryland in 1968.  He went on to work as a research chemist and research director for the Bureau of Mines under both the Department of Interior and the Department of Energy in Maryland, Oregon, and Alabama.  In 1980, while working for the Department of Interior, he received a patent from the United States Patent Office entitled “Process of Electroplating a platinum-rhodium alloy coating  .”He was also Chairman of subgroup United States/Canada Transboundary Air Pollution Working Group, Washington, Toronto, 1980-1983 and Chairman of task group National Acid Precipitation Assessment Program, Washington, 1986-1987.
David served as Chairman of the Combined Federal Campaign for the Tuscaloosa County United Way for several years.  He also held leadership roles in the Washington Academy of Sciences, the National Association of Corrosion Engineers, the Electrochemical Society, and the American Chemical Society.

David retired in 1998 and relocated to Fredericksburg, Virginia, to be near children and grandchildren.

He began a second career as a realtor with Weichert Realtors in Fredericksburg before retiring in 2015 and moving to Newport News, VA, in 2021.

David is survived by his wife of 65 years, Sarah Denton Flinn; his daughters, Cynthia Diane Rivera (Bob) of Gainesville, VA; Davetta Flinn Rinehart (Bill) of Yorktown VA; Dana Kay Gromen (Scott), of Annapolis, Maryland; and seven grandchildren, Chris Rivera (Norina), Patrick Rivera (Sabrina), Ben Rinehart, Taylor Rinehart, Andrea Rinehart, Trevor Gromen (Barbara) and Devin Flinn (Gromen) Nettles (Doug).  He was predeceased by two infant children, Cathy Jeanine Flinn and David Brian Flinn, and two sisters, Nancy Sue Goode (Roy) and Donna Eileen Fraser (John).

Services will be held in Greenville, Texas, under the care of Coker-Mathews Funeral Home, with Reverend Jimmy Tarrant officiating.  In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to either Hope Presbyterian Church, 11121 Leavells Rd., Fredericksburg, VA, 22407, or the American Heart Association.  

The family expresses appreciation to Visiting Angels and Gentiva Hospice for their compassionate care during this time.

Arrangements are under the care of Peninsula Funeral Home.