William D. Flickinger
William D. “Bill” Flickinger, 78, of Avella, formerly of East Berlin, passed away Sunday, March 5, 2023.
He was born January 23, 1945, in Somerset, a son of the late Curtis D. and Thelma R. Shadeck Flickinger.
Bill was a 1962 graduate of Somerset High School, where he excelled in sports, especially football. He earned a full scholarship to play football as a tight end/defensive end at Washington and Jefferson College, but chose to enlist in the U.S. Army and serve his country instead of attending college.
He was stationed in Korea during Vietnam and then in California; he was honorably discharged in 1965.
After the Army, Bill decided to stay in California and attend the University of California Davis, where he received a Bachelor’s Degree in Animal Science. While pursuing his degree he met his future wife, Patricia D. Niel, whom he married January 7, 1967, in Downey, Calif. Patricia passed away June 8, 2018, after 51 years of marriage.
Bill worked as a dietary nutritionist for Carnation in California and moved to York in 1978 to continue his career with the company until the early 1980s, when he began his own company, Cal-Penn. Cal-Penn focused on working with independent dairy farmers across Pennsylvania. He retired from the business in 2017, when he relocated to Avella with his wife.
Bill had a passion for watching all high school sports; you could always find him at the flag pole on Friday nights at Avella’s football field. He also loved to watch his grandsons play Baseball.
He was a lifetime member of the National Rifle Association and enjoyed hunting. He loved all animals and over the years he raised all types of livestock, from beagles to horses and everything in between.
Surviving Bill are four daughters, Denise (George) Goshkey of Dover, Cinnamon (Jeff) Kramer of Avella, Brandi (Frank) Kozak of Sicklerville, N.J., and Angela (Dave) Kot of Dover; 12 grandchildren, Jeremy (Amanda), Robert (Jesse), Joshua (Ashley), Benjamin, Jacob, Jeffrey Jr., William, Calvin, Sawyer, Alice, Griffin, Devon; five great-grandchildren, Ivy, Joshua Jr., Bjorn, Sylvie and Joseph; a brother, Edward Flickinger; a sister, Connie (Clarence) Saylor; a brother-in-law, Dean Walker; and several nieces and nephews.
Deceased, in addition to his parents and wife, are a brother, James Flickinger; and a sister, Sally Walker.
A memorial gathering will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, March 8, in the Jerome A. Stefkovich Funeral Home, Inc., 18 Campbell Street, Avella, PA 15312.
Condolences may be expressed at www.stefkovichfuneralhome.com.