Robert Reed Flaniken, a ninety-year old Veteran of World War II,passed from this life into a better one around 2:00am Friday,September 25th, 2009. Robert succumbed to pneumonia, and its many medical complication, while a patient at Saint David's Hospital in Austin, Texas.
Robert was the second of eight children born to Hubert Lee and Artie Reed Flaniken. He is survived by three brothers and a sister. They are Michael Flaniken of Bryan, Texas; Joy Mentzel of Franklin, Texas; Bill Flaniken of Santa Fe, Texas; and Tex R. Flaniken of Austin, Texas. Robert is preceded in death by his parents, Hubert and Artie Flaniken, two brothers, Hubert L. Flaniken, Jr. and Raymond "Monk" Flaniken, and a sister Gladys Shaw.
Raised in Northwest, Texas as a farm lad, Robert played football while attending Morton High School. He received his High School Diploma from that institution. He believed strongly that a college education is a great advantage in life and contributed a large amount of his life's earnings toward a scholarship fund for his nieces and nephews, as well as for his step-nieces and nephews and his "step-children's" children and grand-children.
Robert enlisted in the US Armed Services on January 2, 1941. He went to the Enlistment Office on January 1 because he wanted to join on the 1st day of the New Year! The Enlistment Office was closed for New Year's Day so he had to wait until the 2nd. He was very disappointed! Several of the young men from Norton joined the service with him. Robert was stationed in Puerto Rico when "the War" broke out. He had been in Puerto Rico helping build run-ways.
Robert flew numerous missions in overseas action during World War II. he was stationed, for a short time, at various bases where damaged planes landed, because said plane was unable to make it back to home base. Robert said, "We fought behind the lines working on things that were shot full of holes."
If you recall, everything that flew in those days was pushed, or pulled, by propellers, and Robert was trained to repair propellers, including bearings, gears, blades, and drive mechanisms. Having volunteered for Air Force Service in 1941, Robert was Honorably Discharged from the service in 1946, At Hitchcock, Texas; Camp Wallace Air Base to be exact. He and his brother, Hubert, started a trucking and dozer business. They hauled a lot of the fill dirt and road base material for Interstate Hwy 45 from Houston to Galveston.
The Texas Veteran's Land Program enabled Robert to buy a small farm in Franklin, Robertson County, Texas in 1951, and employment at Bryan Air Base came soon after.
Robert worked at Bryan Air Force Base for many years until it closed. He then worked at Bergstrom Air Base as a Propeller Specialist until his retirement. He received several certificates for meritorious service from the Civil Service Board.
Robert had the privilege and responsibility of maintaining and repairing the propellers on Air Force One during Lyndon Johnson's tenure as President of the United States. When the President visited his ranch at Johnson City,Air Force One was kept under guard at Bergstrom and maintenance was done under the watchful eye of the Secret Service.
Robert never married , but he had three foster children he raised as his own, and he raised them to be good men.
Those children, whom Robert considered "step-sons" survive Robert, and they are the Elizondo brothers, Aristeo "Junior", Roy, and Manuel.
Aristeo and his wife, Diana have two sons, Robert Louis and Adam. Robert Louis has two sons, Robert Louis Jr. and Jonathan David.
Roy Elizondo and his wife, Teresa, have a daughter, Sierra Herlinda, and Teresa has a daughter Bianca Nichole Vasquez.
Manuel and his wife, Amy Lee, have a daughter Savanna Lee.
Horses and other folks' children furnished Robert with many of life's pleasures, and sports of all kinds drew him like a magnet.
During the early 50's, when Robert was trying to make a go of the farm in Franklin by raising 50-pound Black Diamond watermelons and beef cattle, he participated as a leader in local trail rides. He often supplied as many as six horses and saddles so that children who had no horse could enjoy the activities. (Vikki and Tricia thought the good-looking guys he brought from the Base were a plus also.)
He was one of the activists who worked hard on getting Camp Creek Lake, south of New Baden, Texas, up and running, and was one of the 500 or so people who bought a lake front lot, before there was a lake so the project would have some operating funds. (Lot #23, if an aging memory is correct.) Water skiing on the lake was a major recreational activity.
Robert was happy to share his time, talents, attention, wealth,skills, and knowledge to any who had the need. Robert was a firm believer in a good education and thought that all should have the opportunity to better themselves. His first request of the morning was for his copy of "The Austin American-Statesman". He was such a good friend that service members from 'the War' visited him at his home in Manor, up until the late 1970's. He mentioned that he was raised Assembly of God and that he loved to read his Bible. Robert will be loved and missed by all who knew him!funeral Services will be Sunday September 27,2009 at 4:00 pm in the Colonial Chapel of Cook-Walden Funeral home at 6100 N. Lamar, Austin, Texas, the family will begin receiving guest at 2:00 pm. Burial will be Monday, September 28, 2009 at 11:00 am, at Franklin city Cemetery in Franklin, Texas.
Robert was the second of eight children born to Hubert Lee and Artie Reed Flaniken. He is survived by three brothers and a sister. They are Michael Flaniken of Bryan, Texas; Joy Mentzel of Franklin, Texas; Bill Flaniken of Santa Fe, Texas; and Tex R. Flaniken of Austin, Texas. Robert is preceded in death by his parents, Hubert and Artie Flaniken, two brothers, Hubert L. Flaniken, Jr. and Raymond "Monk" Flaniken, and a sister Gladys Shaw.
Raised in Northwest, Texas as a farm lad, Robert played football while attending Morton High School. He received his High School Diploma from that institution. He believed strongly that a college education is a great advantage in life and contributed a large amount of his life's earnings toward a scholarship fund for his nieces and nephews, as well as for his step-nieces and nephews and his "step-children's" children and grand-children.
Robert enlisted in the US Armed Services on January 2, 1941. He went to the Enlistment Office on January 1 because he wanted to join on the 1st day of the New Year! The Enlistment Office was closed for New Year's Day so he had to wait until the 2nd. He was very disappointed! Several of the young men from Norton joined the service with him. Robert was stationed in Puerto Rico when "the War" broke out. He had been in Puerto Rico helping build run-ways.
Robert flew numerous missions in overseas action during World War II. he was stationed, for a short time, at various bases where damaged planes landed, because said plane was unable to make it back to home base. Robert said, "We fought behind the lines working on things that were shot full of holes."
If you recall, everything that flew in those days was pushed, or pulled, by propellers, and Robert was trained to repair propellers, including bearings, gears, blades, and drive mechanisms. Having volunteered for Air Force Service in 1941, Robert was Honorably Discharged from the service in 1946, At Hitchcock, Texas; Camp Wallace Air Base to be exact. He and his brother, Hubert, started a trucking and dozer business. They hauled a lot of the fill dirt and road base material for Interstate Hwy 45 from Houston to Galveston.
The Texas Veteran's Land Program enabled Robert to buy a small farm in Franklin, Robertson County, Texas in 1951, and employment at Bryan Air Base came soon after.
Robert worked at Bryan Air Force Base for many years until it closed. He then worked at Bergstrom Air Base as a Propeller Specialist until his retirement. He received several certificates for meritorious service from the Civil Service Board.
Robert had the privilege and responsibility of maintaining and repairing the propellers on Air Force One during Lyndon Johnson's tenure as President of the United States. When the President visited his ranch at Johnson City,Air Force One was kept under guard at Bergstrom and maintenance was done under the watchful eye of the Secret Service.
Robert never married , but he had three foster children he raised as his own, and he raised them to be good men.
Those children, whom Robert considered "step-sons" survive Robert, and they are the Elizondo brothers, Aristeo "Junior", Roy, and Manuel.
Aristeo and his wife, Diana have two sons, Robert Louis and Adam. Robert Louis has two sons, Robert Louis Jr. and Jonathan David.
Roy Elizondo and his wife, Teresa, have a daughter, Sierra Herlinda, and Teresa has a daughter Bianca Nichole Vasquez.
Manuel and his wife, Amy Lee, have a daughter Savanna Lee.
Horses and other folks' children furnished Robert with many of life's pleasures, and sports of all kinds drew him like a magnet.
During the early 50's, when Robert was trying to make a go of the farm in Franklin by raising 50-pound Black Diamond watermelons and beef cattle, he participated as a leader in local trail rides. He often supplied as many as six horses and saddles so that children who had no horse could enjoy the activities. (Vikki and Tricia thought the good-looking guys he brought from the Base were a plus also.)
He was one of the activists who worked hard on getting Camp Creek Lake, south of New Baden, Texas, up and running, and was one of the 500 or so people who bought a lake front lot, before there was a lake so the project would have some operating funds. (Lot #23, if an aging memory is correct.) Water skiing on the lake was a major recreational activity.
Robert was happy to share his time, talents, attention, wealth,skills, and knowledge to any who had the need. Robert was a firm believer in a good education and thought that all should have the opportunity to better themselves. His first request of the morning was for his copy of "The Austin American-Statesman". He was such a good friend that service members from 'the War' visited him at his home in Manor, up until the late 1970's. He mentioned that he was raised Assembly of God and that he loved to read his Bible. Robert will be loved and missed by all who knew him!funeral Services will be Sunday September 27,2009 at 4:00 pm in the Colonial Chapel of Cook-Walden Funeral home at 6100 N. Lamar, Austin, Texas, the family will begin receiving guest at 2:00 pm. Burial will be Monday, September 28, 2009 at 11:00 am, at Franklin city Cemetery in Franklin, Texas.
Robert Reed Flaniken, a ninety-year old Veteran of World War II,passed from this life into a better one around 2:00am Friday,September 25th, 2009. Robert succumbed to pneumonia, and its many medical complication, while a patient at Saint David's Hospital in Austin, Texas.
Robert was the second of eight children born to Hubert Lee and Artie Reed Flaniken. He is survived by three brothers and a sister. They are Michael Flaniken of Bryan, Texas; Joy Mentzel of Franklin, Texas; Bill Flaniken of Santa Fe, Texas; and Tex R. Flaniken of Austin, Texas. Robert is preceded in death by his parents, Hubert and Artie Flaniken, two brothers, Hubert L. Flaniken, Jr. and Raymond "Monk" Flaniken, and a sister Gladys Shaw.
Raised in Northwest, Texas as a farm lad, Robert played football while attending Morton High School. He received his High School Diploma from that institution. He believed strongly that a college education is a great advantage in life and contributed a large amount of his life's earnings toward a scholarship fund for his nieces and nephews, as well as for his step-nieces and nephews and his "step-children's" children and grand-children.
Robert enlisted in the US Armed Services on January 2, 1941. He went to the Enlistment Office on January 1 because he wanted to join on the 1st day of the New Year! The Enlistment Office was closed for New Year's Day so he had to wait until the 2nd. He was very disappointed! Several of the young men from Norton joined the service with him. Robert was stationed in Puerto Rico when "the War" broke out. He had been in Puerto Rico helping build run-ways.
Robert flew numerous missions in overseas action during World War II. he was stationed, for a short time, at various bases where damaged planes landed, because said plane was unable to make it back to home base. Robert said, "We fought behind the lines working on things that were shot full of holes."
If you recall, everything that flew in those days was pushed, or pulled, by propellers, and Robert was trained to repair propellers, including bearings, gears, blades, and drive mechanisms. Having volunteered for Air Force Service in 1941, Robert was Honorably Discharged from the service in 1946, At Hitchcock, Texas; Camp Wallace Air Base to be exact. He and his brother, Hubert, started a trucking and dozer business. They hauled a lot of the fill dirt and road base material for Interstate Hwy 45 from Houston to Galveston.
The Texas Veteran's Land Program enabled Robert to buy a small farm in Franklin, Robertson County, Texas in 1951, and employment at Bryan Air Base came soon after.
Robert worked at Bryan Air Force Base for many years until it closed. He then worked at Bergstrom Air Base as a Propeller Specialist until his retirement. He received several certificates for meritorious service from the Civil Service Board.
Robert had the privilege and responsibility of maintaining and repairing the propellers on Air Force One during Lyndon Johnson's tenure as President of the United States. When the President visited his ranch at Johnson City,Air Force One was kept under guard at Bergstrom and maintenance was done under the watchful eye of the Secret Service.
Robert never married , but he had three foster children he raised as his own, and he raised them to be good men.
Those children, whom Robert considered "step-sons" survive Robert, and they are the Elizondo brothers, Aristeo "Junior", Roy, and Manuel.
Aristeo and his wife, Diana have two sons, Robert Louis and Adam. Robert Louis has two sons, Robert Louis Jr. and Jonathan David.
Roy Elizondo and his wife, Teresa, have a daughter, Sierra Herlinda, and Teresa has a daughter Bianca Nichole Vasquez.
Manuel and his wife, Amy Lee, have a daughter Savanna Lee.
Horses and other folks' children furnished Robert with many of life's pleasures, and sports of all kinds drew him like a magnet.
During the early 50's, when Robert was trying to make a go of the farm in Franklin by raising 50-pound Black Diamond watermelons and beef cattle, he participated as a leader in local trail rides. He often supplied as many as six horses and saddles so that children who had no horse could enjoy the activities. (Vikki and Tricia thought the good-looking guys he brought from the Base were a plus also.)
He was one of the activists who worked hard on getting Camp Creek Lake, south of New Baden, Texas, up and running, and was one of the 500 or so people who bought a lake front lot, before there was a lake so the project would have some operating funds. (Lot #23, if an aging memory is correct.) Water skiing on the lake was a major recreational activity.
Robert was happy to share his time, talents, attention, wealth,skills, and knowledge to any who had the need. Robert was a firm believer in a good education and thought that all should have the opportunity to better themselves. His first request of the morning was for his copy of "The Austin American-Statesman". He was such a good friend that service members from 'the War' visited him at his home in Manor, up until the late 1970's. He mentioned that he was raised Assembly of God and that he loved to read his Bible. Robert will be loved and missed by all who knew him!funeral Services will be Sunday September 27,2009 at 4:00 pm in the Colonial Chapel of Cook-Walden Funeral home at 6100 N. Lamar, Austin, Texas, the family will begin receiving guest at 2:00 pm. Burial will be Monday, September 28, 2009 at 11:00 am, at Franklin city Cemetery in Franklin, Texas.
Robert was the second of eight children born to Hubert Lee and Artie Reed Flaniken. He is survived by three brothers and a sister. They are Michael Flaniken of Bryan, Texas; Joy Mentzel of Franklin, Texas; Bill Flaniken of Santa Fe, Texas; and Tex R. Flaniken of Austin, Texas. Robert is preceded in death by his parents, Hubert and Artie Flaniken, two brothers, Hubert L. Flaniken, Jr. and Raymond "Monk" Flaniken, and a sister Gladys Shaw.
Raised in Northwest, Texas as a farm lad, Robert played football while attending Morton High School. He received his High School Diploma from that institution. He believed strongly that a college education is a great advantage in life and contributed a large amount of his life's earnings toward a scholarship fund for his nieces and nephews, as well as for his step-nieces and nephews and his "step-children's" children and grand-children.
Robert enlisted in the US Armed Services on January 2, 1941. He went to the Enlistment Office on January 1 because he wanted to join on the 1st day of the New Year! The Enlistment Office was closed for New Year's Day so he had to wait until the 2nd. He was very disappointed! Several of the young men from Norton joined the service with him. Robert was stationed in Puerto Rico when "the War" broke out. He had been in Puerto Rico helping build run-ways.
Robert flew numerous missions in overseas action during World War II. he was stationed, for a short time, at various bases where damaged planes landed, because said plane was unable to make it back to home base. Robert said, "We fought behind the lines working on things that were shot full of holes."
If you recall, everything that flew in those days was pushed, or pulled, by propellers, and Robert was trained to repair propellers, including bearings, gears, blades, and drive mechanisms. Having volunteered for Air Force Service in 1941, Robert was Honorably Discharged from the service in 1946, At Hitchcock, Texas; Camp Wallace Air Base to be exact. He and his brother, Hubert, started a trucking and dozer business. They hauled a lot of the fill dirt and road base material for Interstate Hwy 45 from Houston to Galveston.
The Texas Veteran's Land Program enabled Robert to buy a small farm in Franklin, Robertson County, Texas in 1951, and employment at Bryan Air Base came soon after.
Robert worked at Bryan Air Force Base for many years until it closed. He then worked at Bergstrom Air Base as a Propeller Specialist until his retirement. He received several certificates for meritorious service from the Civil Service Board.
Robert had the privilege and responsibility of maintaining and repairing the propellers on Air Force One during Lyndon Johnson's tenure as President of the United States. When the President visited his ranch at Johnson City,Air Force One was kept under guard at Bergstrom and maintenance was done under the watchful eye of the Secret Service.
Robert never married , but he had three foster children he raised as his own, and he raised them to be good men.
Those children, whom Robert considered "step-sons" survive Robert, and they are the Elizondo brothers, Aristeo "Junior", Roy, and Manuel.
Aristeo and his wife, Diana have two sons, Robert Louis and Adam. Robert Louis has two sons, Robert Louis Jr. and Jonathan David.
Roy Elizondo and his wife, Teresa, have a daughter, Sierra Herlinda, and Teresa has a daughter Bianca Nichole Vasquez.
Manuel and his wife, Amy Lee, have a daughter Savanna Lee.
Horses and other folks' children furnished Robert with many of life's pleasures, and sports of all kinds drew him like a magnet.
During the early 50's, when Robert was trying to make a go of the farm in Franklin by raising 50-pound Black Diamond watermelons and beef cattle, he participated as a leader in local trail rides. He often supplied as many as six horses and saddles so that children who had no horse could enjoy the activities. (Vikki and Tricia thought the good-looking guys he brought from the Base were a plus also.)
He was one of the activists who worked hard on getting Camp Creek Lake, south of New Baden, Texas, up and running, and was one of the 500 or so people who bought a lake front lot, before there was a lake so the project would have some operating funds. (Lot #23, if an aging memory is correct.) Water skiing on the lake was a major recreational activity.
Robert was happy to share his time, talents, attention, wealth,skills, and knowledge to any who had the need. Robert was a firm believer in a good education and thought that all should have the opportunity to better themselves. His first request of the morning was for his copy of "The Austin American-Statesman". He was such a good friend that service members from 'the War' visited him at his home in Manor, up until the late 1970's. He mentioned that he was raised Assembly of God and that he loved to read his Bible. Robert will be loved and missed by all who knew him!funeral Services will be Sunday September 27,2009 at 4:00 pm in the Colonial Chapel of Cook-Walden Funeral home at 6100 N. Lamar, Austin, Texas, the family will begin receiving guest at 2:00 pm. Burial will be Monday, September 28, 2009 at 11:00 am, at Franklin city Cemetery in Franklin, Texas.
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