Flint Kidson

Cheney Flint Kidson was 62 years old when he departed on his final voyage early in the morning of Sunday, December 19, 2021, following a hard battle with COVID-19, and complications arising from it. He was asleep at the time, and felt no pain at his passing. Flint, as he was universally known, was born in Amarillo, Texas, on April 17, 1959, to his mother, Touphia Margaret Kidson, and his father, Charles Bernard Kidson. He spent his boyhood in the vicinity of the San Francisco Bay in northern California, before moving to Colorado Springs, Colorado, and then finally to Muskogee, Oklahoma, during his teenage years.

He enlisted in The United States Navy as an Aviation Ordnanceman at the age of 23 on January 17, 1983, spending the majority of his naval career performing various duties on the P-3 Orion, an aircraft employed in maritime patrol and anti-submarine warfare roles. He began his career as an In-Flight Ordnanceman in VP-48, based at NAS Moffett Field in northern California. He served there from 1983 to 1987, following which, he was reassigned to the garrison at NAF Atsugi in Japan, where he served as an aircrewman on the C-12 Huron, a multi-role transport aircraft. While stationed there, he met Supatra Phetduang, whom he married in 1990.

In 1991, he was assigned to VP-4, based out of NAS Barber’s Point on the island of Oahu in Hawai’i, where he served again as an In-Flight Ordnanceman aboard P-3s. From there, he attended the P-3 Orion Flight Engineer’s Course at NAS Jacksonville in 1996 and 1997, where his son was born early in 1997. After he graduated, he was assigned to VP-46, stationed at NAS Whidbey Island in Washington, where he served for three years as a P3 Flight Engineer.

In 2000, he was transferred to NAS Point Mugu in southern California, and was assigned to VX-30, performing various duties there. During this tour, in 2002 he graduated from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University as a Bachelor of Science in Professional Aeronautics, and also was advanced to the rate of Chief Petty Officer. Not long after, in early 2003, his daughter was born. He elected to return to Jacksonville for his twilight tour later that year, and was assigned to VP-16, where he served for three years as a P-3 Flight Engineer before retiring on January 31, 2006, after 23 years of faithful service.

Following his naval retirement, he worked several jobs, but returned to aviation in 2011, when he was certificated by the FAA as an Airframe and Powerplant Mechanic. From then to June of 2021, he maintained and repaired civilian commercial aircraft with Flightstar Aircraft Services at Cecil Airport in Jacksonville, Florida. He then retired a second time, this time entirely, and spent the remainder of his life doing what he loved; spending time with his wife, children, and dogs, riding his tractor, smoking briskets and making beef jerky, taking it easy, and visiting with his neighbors and shipmates from his time in The Navy.

Throughout his life he had a passion for all things mechanical. He was an avid model railroader and had a love for railways which inspired him to pursue a short career after The Navy as a Conductor aboard CSX Freight Trains in The American Southeast. He was a lover of the freedom that motorcycles provide on the open road. Riding various Harley-Davidsons all over The American West, Hawai’i, and Japan, he attended many motorcycle rallies and “rode his” to Sturgis, South Dakota, in 2005 with a few of his old shipmates. He had a respect for the history blazed by those sailors, airmen, soldiers, and regular Joe Citizens who came before him, who had shaped the world and his nation into what it has become today. He was a quick-witted and good-humored guy who was well liked and respected by all and had that most wonderful ability to make people laugh at the most opportune time.

He took great pride in his achievements in life, most notably in earning his rate as a Chief Aviation Ordinanceman, and in his service as a Naval Aircrewman, in particular as a Flight Engineer aboard what he considered to be the pride of The Navy’s aerial fleet, The P3 Orion. He held a great passion for flying and all things aviation, which drove him to pursue his degree in Professional Aeronautics and to attain his certification as an Airframe and Powerplant Mechanic. He was a wonderful father and husband who loved and cared for his family very much. He had been a Life Member of both The National Rifle Association and The Veterans of Foreign Wars, and was a member of Black Pond Baptist Church, making his public profession of faith in Almighty God when he was baptized there. He was an active member of the Foxmeadow Civic Association, and a longtime volunteer at Waste Not Want Not in Orange Park, Florida, providing food to those less fortunate souls in need of it. He was the central pillar of strength that bound his family together, and around whom they rallied. He will be sorely missed. He is survived by his wife of 31 years Supatra Phetduang Kidson, his son Patrick Cody Kidson, and his daughter Cheyna Star Kidson. In addition to his family, he is survived by many friends and a legion of old shipmates with whom he served as brothers in arms, all wishing him fair winds and following seas as he crosses over to the other shore.

The family will receive friends from 2:00pm-3:00pm on Wednesday, December 29, 2021 at Black Pond Baptist Church. The funeral service will follow at 3:00pm with Reverend Charlie Hunt officiating. The interment will be held at 1:30pm on Thursday, December 30, 2021 at Jacksonville National Cemetery. 

            “But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.”

            Isaiah 40:31