William Edward Flanery

Devoted husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather, died peacefully February 5, 2022. William E. Flanery, “KNUTE” native of Washington, D.C., graduated from Nativity school, St. John’s High School and the University of Maryland. He lettered in football and golf in high school and college. Served in the U.S. Navy (Korean War) as a Medical Corpsman with the U.S. Marines and at Bethesda Hospital, Naval Medical Research Institute as a Lab technician supporting the Bikini Atoll test.

He retired from the CIA after 24 years serving as Chief of Engineering Technical Security. He, also, was Deputy Chief of Safety for the CIA. In this capacity directed the CIA’s Safety and Health program and Explosive Ordnance Disposal Unit. He was a certified Department of Defense Ordnance Inspector and Ordnance Disposal Officer. During his tenure at the CIA, he processed 116 suspect items successfully. He was commissioned a First Lieutenant in the Chemical Corps EOD. He traveled extensively to and throughout the Middle East and Africa. Served in several war zones. After retiring from the Agency, he served and retired from Montgomery County Risk Management, which he helped to create. Next, he was employed by TRW in the Safety Department as a construction Safety Officer, where he ultimately retired.

Bill is survived by his wife, Pat of 70 years; four of his six children, Tim, Suzanne (Bob Doody), Mary Shapiro and James (Rosemary). He had 6 grandchildren, Dee Dee, Catherine, Emily, Sean, Emma, and Sarah and great-grandchildren, Savannah, Brooklyn and Damien. He was preceded in death by children Julie and Thomas Flanery.

A funeral mass will be held at St. Francis of Assisi, 6701 Muncaster Mill Rd, Derwood, MD 20855 on Friday, February 18, 2022 at 12:00PM.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church, 6701 Muncaster Mill Rd, Derwood, MD 20855.