Arnold Flottman Jr.

Service marked the life of Arnold Louis Flottman, Jr. A self-described lifelong patriot, Mr. Flottman entered his eternal rest on Saturday, January 29, 2022, in Worthington, Ohio. A native of Pittsburg, Kansas, Mr. Flottman was born May 14, 1924, to World War I Veteran Arnold Louis Flottman, Sr., and Julia Elizabeth (Gooding) Flottman. Mr. Flottman was baptized in the Christian Church in Pittsburg, Kansas, and continued in his faith throughout his life. He attended Pittsburg High School, graduating in 1942 with plans to attend Pittsburg State (College) University. However, these plans changed when his cousin FBI Agent Jerry Campbell encouraged him to apply to the FBI. Following his interview with the Kansas City Field Office Chief, Mr. Flottman boarded a bus to Washington, DC, to report for his first day of work in July 1942 and begin classes at George Washington University. Within a year, he was called to serve the nation in the war effort and was inducted on May 17, 1943, at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, with the US Army, where he received military police training at Fort Custer Battle Creek, Michigan. In September 1943, he studied an intensive six weeks of Engineering at the University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin. By December 1943, he was in Indian Town Gap, Pennsylvania, awaiting orders. Initially, Mr. Flottman was to be sent to Great Britain with a unit that ultimately participated in the D-Day Invasion as a replacement for an AWOL soldier. The soldier was recovered just before shipping out, sparing Mr. Flottman this European deployment. Instead, his orders sent him to Trinidad Base Command, where he served as Provost Sargent, investigating potential applicants for US Government positions. He received an honorable discharge as a Staff Sargent on February 5, 1946, in Fort Scott, Arkansas. He continued as an Enlisted Man, Regular Army through May 1948 when he was commissioned as a 2nd Lt., MP, Organized Reserve Corp rising to the level of Lt. Colonel, Military Police, USAR retiring in 1976 after 30 years of service. After the war, Mr. Flottman returned to his career with the FBI, spending 37 years rising through the ranks from the fingerprinting division to become the Supervisory Program Analyst heading up the Visual Investigative Analysis group. This elite group assisted in investigating high-profile cases involving corruption, kidnapping, murder, extortion, and other crimes across the United States, Central America, and the Caribbean. Mr. Flottman was an expert in crime analysis, assisting prosecutors to bring cases to trial and providing testimony as an expert witness. After his retirement, he continued to work as a consultant to the FBI. Throughout his civilian and military careers, Mr. Flottman continued his education, earning degrees from Columbus University (present-day Catholic University of America) and Prince George's Community College; completed coursework at the University of Maryland; and military training, which included graduating from the Military Police Advanced Course Program, Command, and General Staff College, and Industrial College of the Armed Forces – National Security Management Course. During a visit home to Pittsburg, Mr. Flottman learned that the neighbor's niece was working for the Department of Navy in Washington, DC. On his return to Washington, Mr. Flottman looked up Miss Marilyn Miller, and following a short courtship, the two wed on January 31, 1947. They raised four children together in the Washington, DC metro area, enjoying 55 years of marriage before Marilyn died after a long illness in February 2002. Mr. Flottman married Carmen Didier Davis in July 2004. He and Carmen met in Trinidad during WWII, where they discovered both were from southeastern Kansas. They dated briefly after the war and before their careers took them on different paths. After running into a mutual friend, they reconnected and married, returning to Pittsburg, Kansas, where they resided for the next 16 ½ years. Throughout his life, Mr. Flottman was devoted to his family and served his local community. While the children were young, he served as Treasurer for the Green Valley Elementary School PTA, Deacon for Green Valley Presbyterian Church, and Institution Representative, Assistant Scoutmaster and Merit Badge Counselor for Boy Scouts of America Troop 376 (Green Valley Presbyterian Church). Later, his community service continued through VFW Post 9619 (Morningside, Maryland; 1996 lifetime member) and extensive leadership roles in the American Legion and Masonic organizations. Mr. Flottman was affiliated with American Legion Post 68 (Pittsburg, Kansas, 1946- 1947); FBI Post 56 (Washington DC, 1950 - 1953); and then the Department of Justice Post 41 (Washington D.C., 1985 lifetime member), where he served as Post Commander (1988 – 1989), Department of DC Vice Commander (1991 – 1992) and Commander (1993 – 1994), Chairman Special Olympics Committee 1989 – 1990, Delegate to Department Convention and National Convention, Past Commanders Association, Constitutional Amendments Committee (1992), Economics Committee (1991), Vice Chairman Foreign Relations Council, Association National Executive Committeeman (1995 – 1999). He and Marilyn enjoyed attending many social functions and traveling to conventions through the American Legion. Some of his most rewarding experiences were through his affiliation with Masonic organizations starting as a teenager in DeMolay Chapter #3 (Pittsburg, Kansas, 1939 - 1942). Like his father (Pittsburg Masonic Lodge #187) and maternal grandfather (Girard Masonic Lodge #93 AF&AM), Mr. Flottman began his journey as a lifelong Mason as a young adult in 1946. He was proud to be a 75-year member of Marvin A. Armstrong Lodge #187 of Pittsburg, Kansas. In Washington, DC, Mr. Flottman enjoyed meeting fellow Freemasons from around the world as Chief Guide for the House of the Temple, The Scottish Rite of Freemasonry, Supreme Council 33', Southern Jurisdiction in the 1990s and early 2000s. Mr. Flottman was also affiliated and served the FBI Fidelity Club (Masonic)(1952 lifetime member); Acacia Fraternity (George Washington University, 1942 – 1943), Scottish Rite – Valley of Washington, Orient of District of Columbia (1980): KCCH invested 1989, 33 degree coroneted 1991; Valley of Washington, membership Vice Chair (1991 – 1994), Chancellor (1992), Preceptor (1993), and Venerable Master of Kadosh (1995) of Albert Pike Consistory; Supreme Council Session General Chairman of the Reception and Hospitality Committee (1991 – 1993, 1995, 1997, 1999, 2001, 2003); Almas Temple Shrine (1980 life membership): President SE Shrine Club (1986), Secretary SE Shrine Club (1989 – 1991), Provost Marshall (1988 – 1992), Aide to Potentate (1992), Chairman Potentates Ball (1990), Housing Chairman MASA (1990), and Foggy Bottom Clan #133 (1992 life membership); George Washington Chapter #3, National Sojourners, President (1991 – 1992); George Washington Camp, Hero's of 76 Commander (1991 – 1993); Royal Order of Scotland Grand College of Rites of the United States (1990, life member); Pittsburg Scottish Rite Club (2005); York Royal Arch Chapter #44 (Camp Springs, Maryland) (1992, life membership); York Council #23 R & SM (Camp Springs, Maryland)(1992 life membership), and York commandery #16 (Camp Springs, Maryland)(1992 life membership). Mr. Flottman and his wife Marilyn enjoyed traveling to visit family and exploring the world with trips to Bermuda, Trinidad, Iceland, and Norway. They particularly enjoyed taking their grandchildren to Disney World and building dollhouses for their granddaughters. After moving to Kansas, he continued to drive across country with Carmen to attend conventions and visit family. He enjoyed gardening, crossword puzzles, and coin collecting. He correctly completed a daily sudoku puzzle up until his death. He was a voracious reader of history and James Patterson's crime novels. He shared his love for history by exploring the many Revolutionary War and Civil War battlefields and other historic places with his children while they were young. Mr. Flottman's interest in American history seems intuitive as his daughters have discovered through family research that Mr. Flottman is the direct descendant of 10 passengers on The Mayflower. Mr. Flottman was preceded in death by his parents; wife Marilyn (Miller) Flottman; son John Wilkie Flottman; son-in-law Boyd Wester Twitty; siblings James Edward Flottman and Joan Elizabeth Flottman; and numerous beloved extended family and friends. Mr. Flottman is survived by his wife Carmen Didier Davis Flottman of San Diego, California; children Deborah Lynn Twitty of Cookeville, Tennessee, Arnold "Skip" (Marilyn) L. Flottman III of Virginia Beach, Virginia, and Irma (Roberta) Flottman-Mullen of Worthington, Ohio; 7 grandchildren Nathan (Robin) Twitty, Brenon Twitty, and Matt (Sondra) Twitty all of Cookeville, Tennessee; Cora (Drew) Laurens of Wilmington, North Carolina; Mary (Alex) Andres of Virginia Beach, Virginia; and Emily and Ella Flottman-Mullen of Worthington, Ohio; 4 great-grandchildren Sara (Peyton) Ellis of Hendersonville, Tennessee; and Hannah, Ryan and Adelaide Twitty of Cookeville, Tennessee.; and two great-great-grandchildren Audrey and Grayson Ellis of Hendersonville, Tennessee. Mr. Flottman is also survived by four step-children Mark (Connie) Davis of Omaha, Nebraska, Vicky Davis of Bonita, California, H. Babette (Meryl Olsen) Davis of Sacramento, California, and Mary Ellen (Jerry) Harris of San Diego, California; and numerous step-grandchildren and great-grandchildren. We are grateful for his fulfilling and active life and the time shared with our beloved Arnold, Dad, Grandfather, and Pop Pop. Join us in celebrating his life and legacy. A memorial service will be held in Worthington, Ohio, on Saturday, March 19, 2022, at 11:00 a.m., at Schoedinger Funeral and Cremation Service, 6699 North High Street, Worthington, OH 43085 with luncheon to follow. Final resting place in Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Virginia, with graveside service announced later at schoedinger.com. In lieu of flowers, donations in remembrance may be sent to Shriners' Hospitals for Children (any location).