This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: marcenath Surnames: Flint, Hawley Classification: obituary Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/localities.northam.usa.states.newmexico.counties.donaana/4952/mb.ashx Message Board Post: On November 6, 2010, a beautiful sunny day, Quinnie M. Flint went to his homecoming in heaven. He was 77 years old. Quinnie was born to Addie Lee and Frankie Flint on June 26, 1933, in Bard, New Mexico, was a grandson of a pioneer New Mexico family who homesteaded in Quay County in 1908. Quinnie was the oldest of four who had a wonderful childhood on the family farm. He started his contribution to the farm work at a very young age while enjoying great family experiences of fishing, playing dominos & cards, and attending church. He developed a love for the soil and the many creatures he saw every day. He had an encyclopedic knowledge of birds, snakes, lizards, and furry animals. He was an Eagle Scout, and FFA State Farmer, and played basketball and baseball. He developed an enormous capacity for work which he maintained throughout his life. Quinnie received a BS degree in electronics engineering from New Mexico State University in 1958. He was in the first group of "co-ops" w! ho worked at White Sands Missile Range, working at the Range half a year and attending classes the other half. As such he was on the ground floor of the beginning of the defense missile and space programs. Upon graduation, Quinnie began his military service as a Second Lieutenant in the Army Security Agency. His war was the Cold War and he was an expert in cryptography. His exposure to the tactics and results of communist dictatorships led to a life-long dedication to the cause of freedom and he spent his entire life working to keep America free and safe. After his tour was over, he returned to his job at White Sands Missile Range, only to be recalled during the Cuban Missile Crisis as an intelligence officer. When the crisis was over he was honorably discharged as a Captain. He then began his long career at the Range. He was involved in telecommunication, instrumentation, and design engineering and was Head of the Telecommunications Division. He served on many boards and chaired numerous organizations. He was National Chairman of the Integrated Range Instrumentation Group which developed design and support for the entire nation's missile test ranges. During this time he also ! earned MS and MBA degrees from the Florida Institute of Technology. After devoting most of his working life to a career with the government, he spent many years working with NASA creating from scratch the most advanced explosive testing range in the world leading to the modernization in the handling of liquid Hydrogen. Quinnie married the love of his life, Shirley Hawley in 1957. They had grown up in church together and their friendship developed into a romance and marriage. They welcomed three beloved sons, Clifford, Stephen and Franklin into their home. Quinnie's greatest delight was his sons and their families. Upon his retirement, Shirley and Quinnie experienced a wealth of world travel and devoted as much time as possible to "spoiling" the grandchildren. Quinnie became a Christian at an early age and kept his love for the Bible and Church. In Las Cruces, New Mexico, he served as a deacon for thirty-six years while Shirley was the organist. He taught an International Bible Study class for foreign students for twenty-six years and Shirley and Quinnie had friends on every continent. After moving to the area they continued their church life at the First Baptist Church of Pflugerville. \ Quinnie was predeceased in death by his son Clifford, and parents Addie Lee and Frankie Flint. Survivors are: wife Shirley; daughter-in-law Katherine Flint and Page and Joseph; son Stephen Flint and Michelle and family Tennyson, Lily, Sebastian, Hayden, and Helena; son Franklin Flint and Sunday and Ran, Marcel and Joseph. Also surviving in New Mexico are Ora Lee and Leslie Robbins, brother Franklin and Betty and brother Martenia and Felicia and a large extended family. The family will receive guests at Cook-Walden/Capital Parks Funeral Home from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m., on Wednesday, November 10th. A Celebration of Life will be held Thursday, November 11th, 10:00 a.m., in the Memorial Chapel of Cook-Walden/Capital Parks Funeral Home, with Pastor Steve Washburn, presiding. A graveside service will follow on Saturday, November 13, 2010, 11:00 a.m., at San Jon Cemetery in San Jon, New Mexico. To share memories with the family, please visit www.cookwaldencapitalparks.com. Published in Las Cruces Sun-News on November 20, 2010 Important Note: The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. If you would like to reply to them, please click on the Message Board URL link above and respond on the board.