Memorial service: 11 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 7, with military honors, at Reser Funeral Home in Warsaw. Cremation rites were accorded. Burial in Bethel Campground Cemetery in Edwards will be held at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, an account has been set up at O’Bannon Bank, Buffalo, for his childrens’ education costs.
Ronnie Dean Flippin, 66, Urbana, was born Jan. 5, 1949, in Warsaw, the son of Frank and Jean (Palmer) Flippin and Darrell and Dorris (Treese) Brown. He died Jan. 28, 2015, at Harry S. Truman Memorial Veterans Hospital, Columbia.
He was reared in Benton County, graduated from Warsaw High School and served in the U.S. Army as a military police canine handler in Vietnam.
After his military service, he received degrees in criminal justice and fire science from Central Missouri State University, Warrensburg. He completed the Missouri State Highway Patrol Training Academy and served many departments, including Kansas City Major Case Squad, police Chief of Holden and Cole Camp, and deputy in Hickory and Benton counties among others.
He was also certified as a firefighter and paramedic and served the Gladstone Public Safety Department in all three capacities. He was an emergency medical technician instructor for Kansas University, and worked for the city of Springfield Fire Department, from which he retired. After training in computer systems, he went to work for Smurfit-Stone Container as a regional procurement manager, where he was recognized for reducing costs in his division by over $2 million.
He was a drummer, playing in various bands since he was a teenager. He met his wife, Shirley, when they worked together at the Pomme de Terre Opry. They later formed their own band, Country Sunshine, playing for shows, dances and benefits all over the area. He also worked with his wife at KBFL Radio in Buffalo, including announcing Bison basketball games.
He was preceded in death by his parents; and two brothers: Gary Brown and Ricky Brown.
Survivors include his wife of 28 years, Shirley; daughter, Roxie; son, Ross, all of Urbana; children: Michael, Cheri and Kenny; several grandchildren; two brothers: Michael Brown and Dennis Brown; mother-in-law, Helen Turner, Long Lane; numerous cousins; and many friends.
