Alfred E. Flowers

Alfred E. Flowers, 95, died on Monday, March 24, 2014 at the Masonic Village, Elizabethtown. Born December 15, 1918 in Harrisburg, he was the son of the late Ralph J. and Dorothy B. (Shertzer) Flowers.
He graduated with distinguished honors from John Harris High School in June 1936. In December 1942, he graduated with honors from Penn State, earning a bachelor's degree in mining engineering. While a student at Penn State, he was elected to the following honorary fraternities: Tau Beta Pi, engineering; Sigma Tau, engineering; Sigma Gamma Epsilon, mineral industries; and Phi Eta Sigma, general scholastic. He was also a member of the Glee Club, Hy-Los and Choir.
After graduation, he was employed as mining engineer for the Clover Splint Coal Co., Harlan County, KY. In 1946 he joined the teaching staff of the department of mining engineering at Penn State. While there he earned a master's degree in mining engineering in 1948 and the professional degree of engineer of mines in 1949.
Returning to the industry in 1949, he was employed by the Clinchfield Coal Corp., Dante, VA as assistant superintendent of the Mass No.1 Mine, which became the largest underground mine in the United States. Subsequently, he was promoted to chief engineer for Clinchfield where he was responsible for all engineering for the company which operated 18 mines in Virginia, West Virginia and Wyoming.
In 1952 he joined the editorial staff and in 1967 became editor-in-chief of Coal Age magazine at McGraw-Hill, New York, NY, which served the management and engineering segments of the coal mining industry.
In 1971 he joined the Paul Weir Co., international mining engineering, geology and combustion engineering consultants, in Chicago, IL. In addition to major domestic projects, he participated in projects in Canada, Turkey and South Africa. He was a vice president of Paul Weir Co. when he retired in 1983.
Preceding him in death was his first wife, Mary (McElheny) Flowers; a son, Thomas E. Flowers; and a daughter, Janet (Flowers) Rhine.
He is survived by his wife Patricia A. (Woodward/McElheny) Flowers of Masonic Village, Elizabethtown; son, Jeffrey C. (Chieko V.) Flowers of Chesapeake, VA; three grandchildren, Kenneth E. (Laurelyn) Flowers, Lorna E. Flowers (Kurt Goll), and Benjamin P. Rhine; and a great granddaughter, Daphne Flowers Goll.
He was a member of Paumanok-Port Washington Lodge #855, F&AM, Port Washington, NY; Freeport-Long Island Chapter #302, Royal Arch Masons, Freeport, NY; and Trinity Commandery #68, Knights Templar, Long Island City, NY.
Throughout his career he was a member of the American Institute of Mining, Metallurgical and Petroleum Engineers; Illinois Mining Institute; Indiana Mining Institute; Kentucky Mining Institute; Rocky Mountain Coal Mining Institute; and West Virginia Coal Mining Institute.
He was a member of Park Forest Methodist Church, State College, PA, and Sell Memorial Chapel, Masonic Village. He loved his Lord, his country, and his family. In earlier years, he enjoyed playing the trombone, liked to listen to band and choral music, and was an avid reader of history.
A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, April 5, 2014 at Sell Chapel, Masonic Village, Elizabethtown at 1:00 PM. The family will receive friends from 12:00 PM until the time of service. Interment will take place in State College at the convenience of the family.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Sell Chapel outreach ministry, or Masonic Village Hospice.
Arrangements entrusted to Miller-Sekely Funeral Home & Crematory, Elizabethtown.
www.millerfuneralhome.com