March 30, 1921 – April 5, 2023 Maxine’s three daughters remember her most by her strong Christian faith and her life as a living example of that faith in Jesus. Maxine was the daughter of Dr. John Edmondson DDS and Mary Ruth Edmondson Jones. She grew up in Joplin, Missouri and attended Joplin Junior College. In 1941 she obtained her pilots license through the Civil Pilots Training program. She joined the WASP (Women Air force Service Pilots) in 1943 and trained at Avenger Field in Sweetwater, Texas and afterwards she was assigned to the navigation school at Hondo Army Navigation School. When the WASP were deactivated in December 1944 she obtained a job as a company pilot in Alice, Texas where she met her husband Lucien Flournoy. They raised three lovely daughters and together they operated Flournoy Drilling Company and Alice Aviation over many decades. Maxine was active in civic life becoming a member of The Texas Historical Commission. Maxine was appointed by President Jimmy Carter as a member of the World USO Board of Directors. She was active with the local USO in Ingleside and Naval Air Station Corpus Christi. In 2002 she served as the president of the WASP Association. The Commemorative Air Force in Ingleside was named the Maxine Flournoy Third Coast Squadron CAF in her honor in 2004. In March of 2010, she traveled to Washington D. C. to accept the Congressional Gold Metal in recognition of her role as a WASP in the military. Maxine was a long time member of First Presbyterian Church in Alice, Texas and later First Presbyterian Church in Corpus Christi, Texas. She and her husband loved entertaining at the family Lake home in Carmel Hills on Lake Corpus Christi and Flournoy Park in Alice, Texas. Maxine also hosted annual groups to the Bill Gothard Institute of Basic Life Principles when the Christian ministry came to San Antonio every summer, providing hotel and meals for hundreds of friends and employees over the course of many years. Maxine is survived by her three daughters, Mary Anne Guthrie (Greg Guthrie), Betty Louise Fields (Byron Fields), Helen Ruth Pope (Bill Pope), 11 grandchildren; Ben Guthrie, Rachel Johnson (Jason), David Guthrie, Grace Hillestad (Ryan), Byron Fields (Anne), Beckham Fields (Amanda), Claire Craig (Stewart), John Pope (Stephanie), Daniel Pope (Bonnie), and Brian Pope. 18 great grandchildren. Brother, Phil Edmondson. She is preceded in death by her husband Lucien Flournoy and granddaughter Anne Elizabeth Guthrie. Visitation will begin at 1:00 pm followed by a funeral service at 2:00 pm Monday, April 10, 2023 at First Presbyterian Church 430 S. Carancahua St. Corpus Christi, Texas 78401. A private burial will be held on Wednesday April 12, 2023. In lieu of flowers please make a contribution to the Maxine Flournoy Third Coast Squadron CAF or the church or charity dear to you.
