Paula Fry Flynn

Paula Fry Flynn, 85, of Elgin, SC, died Thursday, April 24, at home surrounded by family. Born October 25, 1939, in Columbus, Ohio, she was the daughter of the late Paul R. Fry and Ruth (Shaw) Fry. Paula was valedictorian in the graduating class of 1957 at Mt. Lebanon High School in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. She graduated from the Presbyterian Hospital School of Nursing in Pittsburgh in August 1960. She married David Michael Flynn on September 3, 1960. They enjoyed a loving marriage for 63 wonderful years until his passing in March 2024.

Paula dedicated her life to her family. She and David brought 6 children into the world in 8.5 years. The family settled in Mount Lebanon where Paula grew up and later moved to the Birmingham, Alabama area. David was the love of her life from young adulthood to her final days. Her life revolved around her children. She was active in her children’s and grandchildren’s school libraries and cafeterias, volunteered at Church Food Pantries in each community she lived in, and was a supporter of the Red Cross and its services. She instilled mental strength, quiet intensity, and intellect in her children. All 6 children were able to complete Bachelor’s Degrees in college and have had successful careers as adults. She and David moved to the Columbia area after retirement to be close to children and grandchildren. Attending soccer matches and spending time with her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren became every day for her. She was a trained Master Gardener and loved being creative with her gardens at every home. Puzzle-solving and voracious reading kept her mind sharp throughout her life. She was the rock that kept her family together.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband David M. Flynn and their eldest daughter Eileen Flynn Turnage. She is survived by son David Michael (Mickey) Flynn, Jr. and wife Kylie Kavanagh of Winston-Salem, NC; daughter Moira Suzanne Flynn of Hoover, AL; and sons Daniel Paul Flynn of Alabaster, AL; Patrick William Flynn and wife Sharon of Mason, OH; and Terence Colin Flynn and wife Debbie of Blythewood, SC. She was blessed to share life with fourteen grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren, as well as many nieces and nephews. She is also survived by sister-in-law Suzanne Whitehead of Elgin, SC and brother-in-law Jerome Flynn of Valparaiso, IN.

Family and friends are invited to a funeral mass on Friday, May 2 at 11:00 am at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Columbia, SC. Paula will be interred at St. Joseph’s Columbarium. Mrs. Flynn felt deeply about helping the needy in the community, and in lieu of flowers, she would prefer contributions be made by family and friends to the St. Joseph’s Church-St. Vincent de Paul Food Center in Columbia, SC or to a charity of their choosing.