William H. Flatters

BROWNSVILLE, TX. – William H. Flatters, 99, beloved son, husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather went to be with the Lord on Wednesday, July 14, 2021 in Brownsville, Texas with family at his side.

Bill was born in Florida, New York on October 2, 1921 to Cecil Flatters and Katherine Brinkman. Bill enlisted in the United States Army upon turning 18 and was stationed at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii in December 1939.  On that fateful Sunday, December 7, 1941, when the first Japanese bomb hit Pearl Harbor, Bill was going across the quadrangle when a zero came over with guns firing. A ricochet shot clipped the button off his shirt and the zero was low enough that he could see the pilots face. He remained in Hawaii for another year and a half before his unit was sent to Guadalcanal. In June 1943 during an air raid he was wounded in both legs and left arm when the Japanese forces attempted to take back the island. Bill was awarded the Purple Heart for his service. He was sent back to the states where he was hospitalized in Springfield, Missouri. In the fall of 1943 on a blind date he met the love of his life, Genelda Jones, and were married 69 years before her passing in 2013. They made Brownsville their permanent home in 1979. He was very active for over 29 years in the Brownsville Downtown Lions Club where he served the community in numerous ways.

He was preceded in death by his wife Genelda; his parents, Cecil and Katherine; his brothers, Howard and Lee; and sister, Carolyn.

He is survived by his daughter, Elizabeth Flatters, and son and daughter-in-law James & Nancy Flatters; grandchildren Bryan, Elizabeth Ann, and Janet; great-grandchildren Jesse, Kristen, and Lauren Elliott; and by numerous nieces and nephews as well as treasured friends.

Bill was greatly blessed and highly favored by all who knew him. He will be missed.

A Celebration of his life with full military honors will be held at a date to be announced. Interment will follow at the Rio Grande Valley State Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Mission, Texas where he will be laid to rest beside his beloved wife Genelda.

Memories of Bill may be shared at www.darlingmouser.com.

Personalized funeral arrangements have been entrusted to the care of Darling-Mouser Funeral Home at 945 Palm Boulevard in Brownsville, Texas 78520, (956) 546-7111.