Donna Lee Flynn, 64: Delta flight attendant "one of the good ones"

By Rick Badie

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Flight attendants must have pleasant personalities. They have to display patience even with stressed-out rude passengers. And when it comes to their own stress, they can't let it show.

Donna Flynn possessed the skills and know-how. The Fayetteville woman was a Delta flight attendant for 45 years. The job took her to 41 states and 39 countries. Some destinations: Thailand, Italy, Greece, Guam, Dubai and London.

"She liked flying to London," said Michael G. Flynn, her husband of 25 years. "She could get around there better than in Atlanta."

In June, Donna Lee Flynn was diagnosed with inoperable brain cancer. The cat-lover died from complications of the disease on Aug. 7 at Doctors Hospice of Georgia in Fayetteville. She was 64. A memorial service will be held at 9:30 a.m. Aug. 28 at Grace Evangelical Church in Fayetteville. Carmichael-Hemperley Funeral Home in Peachtree City is in charge of arrangements.

Mrs. Flynn was born in Endicott, N.Y., but moved with her parents to Florida when she was young. She graduated from Miami High and earned an associate's degree at the University of South Florida.

When Mrs. Flynn became a flight attendant, she had planned to keep the job six months. But a half-year became decades. She worked right up to her illness.

"She loved serving people," said her husband, a retired Delta senior customer service representative who met his future wife at gate A-19 at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport. "The travel was kind of secondary, especially after you live out of a suitcase for 45 years. But she loved the people she worked with."

One of them was retired Delta flight attendant Laura Landen of Fayette County.

"She was professional, fun and never got unraveled," she said. "I've never seen her be anything less than gracious."

Mrs. Flynn enjoyed doing needle point and caring for her cats. All seven: Elvis, Cha-Cha, Doodles, Gracie, Luigi, Trixie and Lollipop.

"I'm keeping them," her husband said. "I made her a promise, and the cats are tremendous companions."

For nearly 20 years, the flight attendant had volunteered as a docent at Zoo Atlanta.  She would greet guests on the grounds and educate them about the animals.

"Anybody that happened to go to the zoo might see her out in front of one of our exhibits," said Janelle Ford, who manages the zoo's volunteer program. "She was always happy, upbeat and genuinely enjoyed being out there talking to the guests."

And that's the kind of personality it takes to be a good flight attendant, said Allen Watson, a Delta captain and family friend.

"You deal with all kinds of people," he said. "It takes a lot of stamina and a special person who can compartmentalize and not take things personally. Some do it better than others. I didn't work with her, but I would imagine Donna did a great job from some of the stories I've heard.

"Sounds like she was one of the good ones."

Additional survivors include her parents, Frank and Julia Sick of Fayetteville; a sister, Pat Zemba of Clermont, Fla.; two stepdaughters and five stepgrandchildren.