Pat Flanagan

James Francis "Pat" Flanagan, 96, died Tuesday, December 3, 2013 in Chowan River Nursing & Rehabilitation Center. Mr. Flanagan was born in Newark, NJ on March 18, 1917, and was the son of the late John Edward and Louise Hollenback Flanagan. Pat attended high school in Holland, Michigan, and later Hope College, also located in Holland. There he played football and starred as a "Scat Back", as he was all of 5'5" tall and weighed 150 pounds. His playing days were cut short by World War II. When he enlisted in the Army, he was assigned to the staff of General John J. Pershing. While in service someone mentioned to him he should consider a Radio career after the war as he had good voice. Honorably discharged in 1945, he first worked in Radio in Washington, DC where he met his future wife, Helen White Currin of Oxford, NC. Later they lived in Asbury Park, NJ, and in Pat's career he owned and managed radio stations in Oxford, Fuquay-Varina, and Edenton, NC, before he retired at the age of 83. His radio stations were always known for providing local support and public service for the entire community. Pat took a keen interest in High School Athletics, especially football. While in Edenton, his radio station was only licensed for a daytime operating schedule. Pat went about convincing local advertisers to support a rebroadcast on Saturday morning of the Friday night game. Listening to the Edenton Aces on Saturday morning turned out to be a huge success in the small town market. Pat many times offered the radio broadcast experience to a local high school student by letting them do a regular segment on weekends. Pat was the oldest member of Edenton Baptist Church. In addition to his parents and wife, he was preceded in death by his infant son, Byron Patrick Flanagan; daughter, Bonnie White Flanagan Chesson; sisters Louise Flanagan (Millis, MA), Mildred Norlin (Holland, MI); brothers George Flanagan and Edward Flanagan (Orange Grove, CA); brothers-in-law, Carrole Norlin, Jake McDonough; and sister-in-law, Olive Flanagan. Surviving are his sister, Alice McDonough of Millis, MA; daughter, Patricia DeMasi, her five children Stephanie, Joseph, Gina, Michael, and Matthew, and their father, Richard DeMasi, all of Virginia Beach; and his son, Dwight Flanagan and wife Linda of Southport, and their children Miles of Charlotte and Joy Flanagan dos Reis and husband Pedro of Raleigh. Also surviving is a son-in-law, Earl Chesson of Chapel Hill, his daughter Elizabeth Chesson Hutchison and husband Donald and their children, Nicholas, Oliver, Ella Rose, and Charles Currin, all of Scarsdale, NY. Military honors for Mr. Flanagan will be accorded on Saturday, Dec. 14th, at 2:00 p.m. on the front lawn of Miller Funeral Home & Crematory, 735 Virginia Road, Edenton. Following those honors, a floating reception where friends may join the family will be held in the funeral home until 4:00 p.m. To honor his request, Mr. Flanagan was cremated, and the immediate family will spread his ashes in a private service. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Edenton Historical Commission, 505 S. Broad Street, Edenton, NC 27932. Online condolences may be made by visiting www.millerfhc.com.