Memorial
Roger Leroy Flint (91) lost his long battle with father time and succumbed to the chronic effects of old age on Sunday morning April 21, 2024. Roger was born on August 31, 1932, in Dodge City, Kansas. His parents, Leroy and Vivian, were living in Englewood, Kansas, but traveled to Dodge City for his birth. After Roger was born, they remained in Dodge City for a few years before moving to Pratt, Kansas, where he was raised. After graduation from high school, Roger enlisted in the Marine Corps (1951-1954), ultimately attaining the rank of Staff Sargent and spending time in Korea. After his military discharge, Roger attended Kansas State University, earning his degree in Electrical Engineering on May 26, 1957.
After graduation, Roger moved to Cedar Rapids Iowa, and started working for Collins Radio. It was there he met a sweet, young schoolteacher named Barbara Kay Wallace and they married on Valentines Day 1960.
Roger spent his entire career (33 Years) working for various evolutions of Rockwell/Collins Radio. He started working with communication radios, then on auto-pilot systems, and finally on early GPS systems. He finished his career with a 2-year transfer to Australia, where he oversaw work on software development and helicopter simulators. Roger retired after returning from Australia in 1990.
Roger had a lucrative second career that began in 1973 when he and Barb purchased a small acreage outside of Marion and became part time farmers. They had a huge garden and raised various forms of livestock including sheep, cattle, horses, and 3 young boys. They sold the farm when they went to Australia, but Roger and Barb kept a home in Cedar Rapids and traveled extensively in retirement. Barb passed away in 2009, after which, Roger moved to Cottage Grove Place (CGP), where he remained until he died. It was at CGP where Roger met a sweet, retired schoolteacher named Mary-Janette Andre. For the majority of his time at CGP, Roger lived independently, and he and Mary frequently traveled around the country.
Roger was preceded in death by his parents, brother Leland (Orpha) Flint, sister Virginia (Donald) Bone, wife (Barb) of 49 years, and all but one cousin. He leaves behind his second love (Mary-Janette) and his three sons, two of which turned out not-half-bad: Lee (Sue) Flint of Springfield, Illinois, Paul (Heather) Flint of Anchorage, Alaska, and Allen Flint of Queen Anne, Maryland. He also has 6 grandchildren: (Matthew Flint, Emily (Matt) Schmidt, Addison Scudder, Karlin Scudder, Coal Flint, and Teal Flint) and two great-grandchildren: (Cora Scudder) and a soon to be baby boy Schmidt.
Roger was a member of Thursday Noon Optimists Club, First United Methodist Church, and Linn County Trails Association. He enjoyed woodworking and bicycling.
A Celebration of Life will be held at the Marion Methodist Church at 11:00 on July 20, 2024. Please refer to the Cedar Memorial Park Funeral Home website for more details. In Lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in the name of Roger Flint to the Cottage Grove Place Foundation-The Greatest Needs Fund.