Obituary for William Loren Flinn William “Bill” Flinn passed away peacefully at his home in Columbus, Ohio on the morning of June 9th surrounded by family. He was born on November 22, 1938 in Piqua, OH to Margorie Marie Flinn and Charles E. Flinn of Houston, OH. Bill was preceded in death by his parents, brother-in-law, William Barber and nephew Charles Barber.
After graduating from Houston High School, he went on to earn a B.S. in Agricultural Economics (1960), an M.S. in Rural Sociology (1961) and a PhD in Rural Sociology (1966) all from The Ohio State University. He had a long and distinguished career as a Professor at The University of Wisconsin and The Ohio State University where he received numerous teaching and research awards among other distinctions and honorary positions including a Fulbright Lectureship at the National University in Bogota, Columbia, President of the Rural Sociological Society, Distinguished Rural Sociologist by the Rural Sociological Society, Alpha Gamma Rho Brother of the Century Award and Sigma Delta’s Outstanding International Award and Outstanding Research Award. He became the President and Executive Director of the Midwest Universities Consortium for International Activities in 1980 and remained in that position for over 20 years even though it was initially only supposed to be a short-term appointment.
Under his leadership MUCIA enjoyed unprecedented international growth and success. Later in his career he returned to academics and his passion for teaching. He had a full and well lived life traveling the globe and making many friends along the way.
He was dedicated to teaching and serving others with love and compassion and was an amazing story teller, the life of the party and a loyal friend and colleague. Bill is survived by his wife of 52 years, Susan; two brothers Dick (Marla) and Gary (Susan) Flinn; sister Kathleen Barber; brother-in-law Glen Heller (Sandy); daughter Anne Clark and her husband Jim; son Jim Flinn and his wife Sara; five grandchildren Danny, Thomas, Johnny, William and Oliver along with nieces and nephews: Holly Flinn, Heidi McCabe (Tim), Victoria (Brian) McCurdy and Nick Flinn and their families; best friend Bob Caldwell and his family and honorary son Morgan Clark. Per his wishes, no formal services will be held but a celebration of his life at The Varsity Club will be announced at a later date.
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