David Flohr

June 6, 1925 - May 27, 2022

Commander David Lloyd Flohr, US Navy, Retired, 96, died very peacefully. His family members were at his bedside and in his last moments, he was held and surrounded by the comfort and security of his family.

David was a devoted husband to Mary and father to three. He is survived by his children, David Flohr, Steven Flohr, and Nancy Warczack and their respective spouses. He was a grandfather to eight and great-grandfather to 17. He was born in Bucyrus, Ohio and was the son of Wayland and Emily Flohr. Shortly after his birth, the family moved to South Pasadena where he and his four siblings attended school until they graduated.

Pearl Harbor was a defining moment for our country and after the attack, David tried to join the Naval Air Corps. He had to wait to join, however, until he was 17 1/2. When that time came, he was called into active duty in the Naval V-12 program. After completing the program, he was commissioned an ensign and naval aviator in June 1946. As a commissioned pilot, David was sent to North Island Naval Air Station, where he was assigned to Airgroup One, Dive Bomber Squadron VA2A. Shortly after that, he met the love of his life. David met Mary Lucille Eul in San Diego. She was a native of Minnesota, who had escaped the cold for a much warmer climate. The two were married in February 1948. They enjoyed 65 1/2 years of love and laughter together, while raising their three children. Having children, coupled with his strong Catholic faith, led David to a lifetime of volunteerism and service.

David was asked to help his boys' local Cub Scout troop, and fill in as a leader when their existing Scoutmaster had moved away. This carved a long, beautiful path of service. He served as a Junior Achievement Advisor, spent time volunteering within the prison system, joined the Navy and Marine Corps Relief Society as a counselor/advisor in which he volunteered more than 2,500 hours. His greatest volunteer efforts, however, were focused on bringing the USS Midway Aircraft Carrier to the San Diego Bayfront, and creating the Midway Museum as a living symbol of Freedom. In June of 2006, after an 11-year struggle, the museum opened its doors to a greater success than anyone could have imagined. In recognition of his 23 years of dedicated support of the Midway Museum, the museum board honored David by naming the annual volunteer award after him.

David was an adventurer, he loved learning, seeing, and doing! Among his many endeavors, he was well-traveled and worldly, he went on treasure dives, organized marching band-filled family reunions, piloted airplanes, played the trumpet, navigated the Panama Canal in a 96' Baltic Schooner called the Jade Dragon (which he owned, sailed, and donated), he saw some of the earliest cave paintings known to man, established and donated to museums, was owner/operator/partner of a Hickory Farms and Jack In the Box franchises, he was a member of the esteemed Explorers Club, told his kids and their kid's kids stories and tales of the "big Mamoo", he wrote an excellent autobiography, had a full head of brown hair until the end, and he made each family member feel like they were "his favorite"; but mostly, he was absolutely loved by his many friends and family.

And really, when it comes right down to it, what more could a person want?

San Diego Union-Tribune, June 19, 2022