Harry L. Flint

Harry Lee Flint, 85, was born in Buckingham, the third child of Dave Flint and Cora Walker Flint, both Lee County pioneer families. The family established its homestead in East Lee County on what is now known as Homestead Road in Lehigh Acres when Harry was seven months old.

The house he grew up in stood until June 2010, when a lightning strike burned it down. Flint lived, worked and raised his family within a mile of the family homestead for the remainder of his life.

Flint attended elementary school in Buckingham and graduated from Alva High School in 1943. Upon graduation he enlisted in the U.S. Navy. After boot camp he was sent to gunnery school in Norman, Okla. He was then sent to Gulf Beach gunnery range , an outpost of the Naval Air Station in Pensacola, Fla., and spent his remaining service time there as a gunnery instructor until the war ended.

While in Pensacola he met his wife of more than 65 plus, Nora Bea Paul Flint. She is known to many as “Granny Bea.”

After his discharge with a growing family, he completed a four-year agricultural course from the University of Florida in Ft. Myers.

Flint was well respected for his hard work and vast knowledge as a farmer and a rancher. He was an active farmer in Lee County from 1946-1971. He built from the 1950s through the 1990s one of the largest cattle herds in Southwest Florida. He rode a horse and worked his cattle until he was 75.

Flint was appointed by former Lee County Sheriff Flanders Thompson, as a special deputy in the investigation of cattle rustlers. In 1973 he was elected president of the Lee County Cattlemen’s Association and served that capacity for seven years. In 1992 Flint was awarded by the Lee County Cattlemen’s Association “Cattleman of the Year.” He was also a former state director of the Lee County Cattlemen’s Association.

Flint was a contributor to the Lee County 4-H for many years. He was a former member of the Lee County Zoning board. He was an honorary member of the Florida Sheriff’s Association. He was a member of the Florida Farm Bureau, Florida Cattlemen’s Association, the NRA, Lee County Deputy Sheriff’s Association and the American Legion Post #323 in Lehigh.

Flint is survived by his wife Bea, son, Ronnie Flint(Joy), son Roger Flint (Gem); daughters,Sandra Walworth (Larry), Martha Ahern (Robert), and Norma Jean Padgett (Lonnie).

He is also survived by 17 grandchildren, Amanda Flint Browning, Alan Flint, Matt Flint, Randy Santerfeit, Andy Wayne Flint, Christy Ahern Liscum, Robbie Ahern, Paul Bridges, Jimmy Flint, Jeffrey Flint, Roy Bridges, Elaine Ahern Langley, Dawn Walworth Dial, Dionna Clark Walker, Calbert Baker, Jimmy Baker, Ronnie Padgett and 37 great-grandchildren and four great-great-grandchildren. Also surviving is a brother, David Flint (Peggy) of Fort Myers; sisters, Clara Brown (Troyce) of Maine and Mildred Hodges of Tampa, Uncle Carl Walker of Alva, Aunt Aleanor Walker Allison and sister-in-law, Alecia Flint, both of Lehigh Acres, and many nieces, nephews and cousins. Flint was pre-deceased by his brothers, Velton and William Flint. His son-in-law, Roy Bridges and his youngest child, Wanda Flint Huddleston .

The funeral is Saturday, July 2 at 1 p.m. at Lee Memorial Park on SR 82 with graveside services to following there. Pastors Norman Walker and Gary “Bronc” Flint will be officiating at the service.

Viewing for friends and family will be held from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. before the service.

In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be sent to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital or Hope Hospice. Condolences may be offered at www.leememorialparkfuneralhome.com‘>www.leememorialparkfuneralhome.com.