Steve Flickinger

Charles Stephen "Steve" Flickinger, age 66 of Miamisburg, Ohio, passed away on February 10, 2020, at Miami Valley Hospital in Dayton, Ohio, after a three-year battle with myelofibrosis, a rare bone marrow cancer.

Steve was born July 7, 1953, in Dayton. He graduated from Carroll High School in Dayton, earned his associate degree in law enforcement from Sinclair Community College in Dayton, his undergraduate degree in criminology from Capital University in Columbus, Ohio, and his master's degree in education from the University of Dayton.

Steve lived a life of service to his country and his community. He is a veteran of the United States Air Force, being honorably discharged after serving in Vietnam ("In case you are wondering where you are going, look out the window and see our F-4 escorts") and earning the National Defense Service Medal, Marksmanship Expert in multiple weapons, Good Conduct Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, and Outstanding Unit commendations. Wanting to continue protecting others, after leaving the military he served 26 years as a patrol officer, evidence technician, and DARE officer with the Dayton and Miamisburg police departments. One of his proudest moments was briefly talking to Ronald Reagan and shaking his hand – twice as he always noted – while working during the president's re-election campaign stop in Dayton. Having retired from law enforcement relatively young and looking to combine his love of history with educating, he shifted into his second career as a teacher, spending 15 years at West Carrollton (Ohio) High School teaching history and police in democracy classes – sometimes dressed in period-specific clothing – and earning the Dickinson T. Guiler Distinguished Educator of the Year Award.

Steve's interests and hobbies were varied and plentiful enough to keep him busy outside his professional lives. An active youth, he played sports year-round: baseball, basketball, football, and even an ill-fated stint with the wrestling team. His sports involvement continued as an adult, first as a fastpitch softball player in the USAF before settling into slowpitch softball after the service. Doubling as family vacations, he traveled the country to play in law enforcement tournaments with his "brothers in blue" including a trip to Las Vegas where, thanks to one hotel's limited soundtrack, he subsequently could not stand to hear "Hot Hot Hot" by Buster Poindexter. Not content with only playing, Steve coached girls' basketball at the grade school level and girls' soccer at the high school level for both Miamisburg and West Carrollton high schools. He was avid fan of the Cincinnati Bengals, Cincinnati Reds, Ohio State football, and Dayton basketball and handed down that fandom to his children…the good and the bad.

Steve was a voracious reader, always having a book near his chair – usually history – making gift buying easy. He coupled his love of history with his love of talking and volunteered as an interpreter at Carillon Historical Park where he liked to comment on North Carolina's license plate motto and where he once discussed the Wright Flyer III with famous NASA flight director Gene Kranz. Interested in and proud of his family's military service throughout the nation's history, Steve was a member of Sons of the American Revolution and a Junior Vice Commander of Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War, Major General William T. Sherman Camp #93.

Steve is preceded in death by his parents, Charles and Helen (Pfeiffer), and his infant brother, Charles.

Steve is survived by his wife of nearly 46 years, Claudia; son, Michael (Stephanie) and daughter, Kyle; brothers Robert (Nancy) and James; and numerous family members including nieces, nephews, cousins, and in-laws.

The family will greet friends from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Monday, February 17, 2020, at Newcomer – Beavercreek Chapel. Mass of Christian Burial will be said at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, February 18, 2020, at St. Helen Catholic Church in Riverside, Ohio, with interment at Dayton National Cemetery immediately following.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks you consider donating in Steve's memory to one of the following organizations: MPN Research Foundation, the Dayton History Fund, or The Air Force Museum Foundation.

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