John Flowers

John Lawson Flowers, 81, of Winston-Salem, NC died peacefully on Sunday, November 9, 2008 at the Kate B. Reynolds Hospice Home, Winston-Salem. He was born on October 30, 1927 to Lloyd Marcus Flowers and Martha Elizabeth Huffsteller Flowers (both deceased), the youngest of 7 children. He graduated from Mt. Holly High School, after spending a 5th year there to play football for his beloved Coach Thompson. After serving in the Army during the Korean conflict, John married the love of his life Nancy Kathryn Barrett in August 1953. They moved to Miami, Fl. for one year for John to complete his studies at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical. They came to Winston-Salem, and he began his career at Piedmont Aviation, Fixed Base Operations. John's passion and life's work was airplanes. He spent most of his time working, tinkering with, and fixing airplane engines. He and Nancy raised 3 children. He was a part time coach of several Little League teams, and a full-time breakfast cook on school days. John, or Papa, as he is more affectionately known, kept his 7 grandchildren entertained with a large swing, a tree house, and golf cart in the back yard. He also provided lessons on proper pancake flipping on Saturday mornings. John was the rock of his family, gathering everyone together once each fall for a large family reunion. In his later years, he dedicated his life to providing and caring for his wife, Nancy through her battle with lung cancer. His children felt blessed with the opportunity to host their father in their homes in the last year of his life. John was a witty, intelligent, and loving man who taught life lessons through his actions. He is survived by his children, Marc Flowers, and wife Kathy of Advance, NC., Beth Patty, and husband Reid of Burlington, NC., and Burt Flowers, and wife Melissa of Lewisville, NC. He is also survived by his grandchildren, Brock and John Flowers, Lawson and Barrett Patty, and Philip, Katie, and Steven Flowers. He is survived by his sister Elizabeth Flowers Caldwell and many beloved nieces and nephews. In addition to his wife Nancy, he was preceded in death by 2 infant children, Johnny and Barrett, and 5 brothers and sisters. The family will receive friends at Hayworth-Miller Funeral Home on Silas Creek Parkway, Winston-Salem, on Wednesday November 12, 2008 from 6-8 pm. Funeral services will be held Thursday, November 13, 2008, at 11am at Wesley Memorial United Methodist Church on Bolton Street, Winston-Salem, NC. Memorials may be made to the Kate B. Reynolds Hospice Home, 101 Hospice Lane, Winston-Salem, NC 27103 or to Wesley Memorial United Methodist Church, 1210 Bolton Street Winston Salem, NC 27103. His family would like to extend their deepest appreciation for the love and care that John received while at Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center.

Memorials:
Memorials may be made to the Kate B. Reynolds Hospice Home, 101 Hospice Lane, Winston-Salem, NC 27103 or to Wesley Memorial United Methodist Church, 1210 Bolton Street Winston Salem, NC 27103.

Cemetery:
Forsyth Memorial Park

Service:
Service at 11:00am on November 13, 2008 at Wesley Memorial United Methodist Church