Celebrating the life of
Lt. William W. Linkenhoker
January 08, 1924 - October 26, 2014
Retired United States Navy
Lt. William W. Linkenhoker (USN, RET.)
William “Bill” Linkenhoker, 90, passed away Sunday, October 26, 2014 at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Savannah, Georgia after a sudden illness. Bill was born January 8, 1924 to Mosby and Blanche Ledbetter Linkenhoker in Lapel, Indiana, the youngest of two children. He attended Lapel High School where he met his high school sweetheart, Sally Mae Barbee. They both graduated in 1942 and were married in 1944. At the time of his death, Bill and Sally had celebrated 70 years together as husband and wife.
Bill enlisted in the Navy after high school and served during WWII. He was stationed in the Atlantic, off the coast of Africa, where he was on two different ships that were torpedoed. After returning home, he was accepted into the aviation program where, upon completion, he became a distinguished “Silver Eagle” – Enlisted Flight Students who trained alongside and completed the same program as other Naval Aviators. Once he had earned his wings, he flew aircrafts and lighter-than-air blimps out of Naval Air Station Pensacola and Glynco Naval Air Station. He eventually became an instructor before his retirement in 1957.
After the Navy, Bill became an owner/operator to 17 Shoney franchises across the Southeast. He later ventured into real estate where he developed many properties including Tybrisa Beach (Tybee Island, GA) and Table Rock Golf Resort (Table Rock, SC). Bill loved travelling and spending time with his family and friends. He enjoyed being outside where he could fill his birdfeeders, fertilize flowerbeds and restore his Model T automobile.
Bill is survived by his wife, Sally; son Curt (Dawn) Linkenhoker; grandchildren, Kevin (Cynthia) Linkenhoker, Beth (Cliff) Baker, Karen (Aaron) Mumford, Brandi (Travis) Zittrauer, Amber Linkenhoker, Patrick Linkenhoker; nine great grandchildren, numerous nieces and nephews; and long-time assistant Janet (Michael) DeBoe. Bill was preceded in death by his parents, brother Max Linkenhoker and son, Danny Linkenhoker.
A visitation will be held from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m., Thursday, October 30, 2014 at Fox & Weeks Funeral Directors, Islands Chapel.
The funeral service will be 11:00 a.m., Friday, October 31, 2014 in the Islands Chapel of Fox & Weeks Funeral Directors with Travis Zittrauer officiating. Interment will follow in the Greenwich section of Bonaventure Cemetery.
Remembrances: In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Communities of Coastal Georgia Foundation – Honor Flight, 1626 Frederica Road, Suite 201, St. Simons Island, GA 31522. Mr. Link had hoped to travel with other WWII Veterans on an Honor Flight slated for May 2015 that would have allowed him to visit their national memorial.
Please sign our online guestbook at www.foxandweeks.com
Fox & Weeks Funeral Directors, Islands Chapel, Savannah, Georgia
So many years have passed since I last saw Mr. Link, the name I always used as a kid to address him, because Linkenhoker was to much to have to say. I have nothing but wonderful memories of he and Mrs. Link. His love for fishing, and my friendship with Curt back in grammar school, I was invited to come along on a number of fishing trips, including on the Altamaha river near Brunswick, Ga., and Monks Corner, SC. One of the things I will never forget is the nickname he gave me, Clyde. I guess because my name was Andy, and there was an actor named Andy Clyde who was well know back then. I never asked him why he called me that, and just assumed that was where he came up with it. Not that it mattered, it just always made me feel special that he had taken the time to come up with a nickname for me. Which is ironic, because Andy is already a nickname. I am so sorry that he has passed on, but so glad that his family and friends were able to be a part of his life as long as they were. To all the family, Mr. Links memory will always live on in my heart. Most Sincerely, Andy Mendonsa
- Andy Mendonsa, Chattanooga, TN
Sally & Family I'm saddened to here of Mr. Link's passing. I remember the great times at Table Rock Resort. may God Bless each and everyone. He will be missed. Tammy Kent & Family Easley, SC
- THE KENT FAMILY, EASLEY , SC
Sally & Family I'm saddened to here of Mr. Link's passing. I remember the great times at Table Rock Resort. may God Bless each and everyone. He will be missed. Tammy Kent & Family Easley, SC
- THE KENT FAMILY, EASLEY , SC
I just wanted you all to know you are in our thoughts and prayers. Sandi Hopkins and Terry Keith Dills.
- Sandi Hopkins, Walhalla , Sc
Sally you and family are in our prayers you are blessed for all the wonderful years you and bill shared stringers
- stringers, springfield, ga
Sally, Our thoughts and prayers are with you! You and Link have always been on our list of favorites. We have so enjoyed our visits with you. Also all the games of UNO at George and Bee's. Our memories will always be of fun and lots of laughs. Love, Jeff and Rayma
- Rayma and Jeff Ridgway, Columbus, OH
Sally and Family, We are so very sorry for your loss. Grateful that Kevin helped make us aware of Bill's passing. Praying for peace and comfort for you all.
- Michael and Terry Notartomaso, Hilton Head, SC
Aunt Sally, Curt and family. I am so sorry for your loss. Uncle Bill was an amazing man. He was more than an Uncle to me and my family. He will be deeply missed. You are all in our thoughts and prayers. Love you!!
- Kim Stringer, Kristen & Karen, Savannah, GA
We are so sorry to hear about the passing of Uncle Bill. LeNae and I had a wonderful time chatting with him in Indiana a few years back. Our prayer's are with you Aunt Sally and the rest of the family.
- Gregory and Lenae Linkenhoker, Council zbluffs , IA
Thinking of your family
- Angela Mathis, Columbus, IN
We are truly sorry at the loss of Uncle Bill. The boys were so happy to see him during Dads death. We know he will be greatly missed by you Aunt Sally and all of his family. Uncle Bill was an amazing person. The boys couldn't stop talking about their Uncle Bill. God bless you all now and forever. We will be praying for you all.
- Sharlyn Linkenhoker, Trudell & Family, Thurman, Iowa
You will be missed love u tell we meet again rip . From the cobaugh family
- Branden and nicole cobaugh and kids , omaha, Ne
Aunt Sally and family, Our thoughts are prayers are with you during this time. Uncle Bill was an amazing man and truly loved his family. He treated us as his family even though we were "adopted" into this wonderful family. He will truly be missed. Love John and Michele
- John and Michele (Friends of Kris Blackburn, Indianapolis, IN
Sally, We are very sorry to hear of Bill's passing. My father wanted me to let you know that he has many fond memories of you and Bill coming over to the house, sitting in the kitchen with he and my mom and just talking for hours. Bill was dad's favorite cousin. Take care. Norman
- The Montgomery's, Anderson, IN
Sally and Family, My dad, Myron "Teet" Snyder graduated from Lapel High School with both of you. He and my mom spoke / speak very fondly of both of you. Thoughts and prayers with you as you celebrate Bill's life.
- Nancy Snyder Coomer, Lapel, IN
Mr. Link was an amazing man! He will be missed! I loved the sweet smile and all the hugs from him and Sally. Please know that my thoughts and prayers are with you all.
- Amy Shelton, Pickens, SC
Sally, and all the family. Mr. Link was very special to me (and so are you Sally) I will miss him very much. You are in my thoughts and prayers, David
- David Harris, Sunset, SC
What an amazing man and an amazing life. I will always remember him at the family reunions and the fun auction. Praying for peace and comfort for you all.
- Terri Stanford Rinker, Noblesville, IN
Aunt Sally, Curt and the rest of the family... Uncle Bill will always have a place in my heart and I will cherish my memories of the times we were all together. Even the time when he took us out in his boat and it started filling up water! Wishing you all peace for comfort and courage to face the days ahead. Rest in peace Uncle Bill
- John and Laura Burke , Gilbert , AZ
Aunt Sally, Curt, Dawn and families, we were so sorry to hear of Uncle Bills passing. He was a great man who will be greatly missed. Our thought and prayers are with you all during this hard time. Love to you all!
- Steve and Michele Harrison and family, Noblesville, In
Sally and all the family. Through Ritch, I am reviving memories of you, Bill, Danny, Curt, Jerry, Blanche and Mose...I didn't know his name was Mosby until I read Bill's obituary. May you find peace and comfort and may God bless you! Love, Etta Sue
- Etta Sue Stevenson Gann, Noblesville, IN
Sally, Curt and family, I hope you all know how important Mr. Link was to me (and my family), he is the dearest person I have ever know, and such an inspiration to me (and Michael). He will always be in my heart and will always be remembered. I pray that God will comfort all of you in the days to come. Love Janet
- Janet DeBoe, Savannah, Ga
Sending love & prayers to the entire Linkenhoker family.
- Rebecca Hummel & John Joines, Alpharetta, GA
Our thoughts and prayers are with the Linkenhoker family, we have lost a man so loved by his family, a true WWII Hero and a member of the Greatest Generation. Much love to all of you. Chandra and Steve
- Chandra and Steve Kendall, St. Simons Island, GA
So many years have passed since I last saw Mr. Link, the name I always used as a kid to address him, because Linkenhoker was to much to have to say. I have nothing but wonderful memories of he and Mrs. Link. His love for fishing, and my friendship with Curt back in grammar school, I was invited to come along on a number of fishing trips, including on the Altamaha river near Brunswick, Ga., and Monks Corner, SC. One of the things I will never forget is the nickname he gave me, Clyde. I guess because my name was Andy, and there was an actor named Andy Clyde who was well know back then. I never asked him why he called me that, and just assumed that was where he came up with it. Not that it mattered, it just always made me feel special that he had taken the time to come up with a nickname for me. Which is ironic, because Andy is already a nickname. I am so sorry that he has passed on, but so glad that his family and friends were able to be a part of his life as long as they were. To all the family, Mr. Links memory will always live on in my heart. Most Sincerely, Andy Mendonsa
- Andy Mendonsa, Chattanooga, TN
Sally & Family I'm saddened to here of Mr. Link's passing. I remember the great times at Table Rock Resort. may God Bless each and everyone. He will be missed. Tammy Kent & Family Easley, SC
- THE KENT FAMILY, EASLEY , SC
Sally & Family I'm saddened to here of Mr. Link's passing. I remember the great times at Table Rock Resort. may God Bless each and everyone. He will be missed. Tammy Kent & Family Easley, SC
- THE KENT FAMILY, EASLEY , SC
I just wanted you all to know you are in our thoughts and prayers. Sandi Hopkins and Terry Keith Dills.
- Sandi Hopkins, Walhalla , Sc
Sally you and family are in our prayers you are blessed for all the wonderful years you and bill shared stringers
- stringers, springfield, ga
Sally, Our thoughts and prayers are with you! You and Link have always been on our list of favorites. We have so enjoyed our visits with you. Also all the games of UNO at George and Bee's. Our memories will always be of fun and lots of laughs. Love, Jeff and Rayma
- Rayma and Jeff Ridgway, Columbus, OH
Sally and Family, We are so very sorry for your loss. Grateful that Kevin helped make us aware of Bill's passing. Praying for peace and comfort for you all.
- Michael and Terry Notartomaso, Hilton Head, SC
Aunt Sally, Curt and family. I am so sorry for your loss. Uncle Bill was an amazing man. He was more than an Uncle to me and my family. He will be deeply missed. You are all in our thoughts and prayers. Love you!!
- Kim Stringer, Kristen & Karen, Savannah, GA
We are so sorry to hear about the passing of Uncle Bill. LeNae and I had a wonderful time chatting with him in Indiana a few years back. Our prayer's are with you Aunt Sally and the rest of the family.
- Gregory and Lenae Linkenhoker, Council zbluffs , IA
Thinking of your family
- Angela Mathis, Columbus, IN
We are truly sorry at the loss of Uncle Bill. The boys were so happy to see him during Dads death. We know he will be greatly missed by you Aunt Sally and all of his family. Uncle Bill was an amazing person. The boys couldn't stop talking about their Uncle Bill. God bless you all now and forever. We will be praying for you all.
- Sharlyn Linkenhoker, Trudell & Family, Thurman, Iowa
You will be missed love u tell we meet again rip . From the cobaugh family
- Branden and nicole cobaugh and kids , omaha, Ne
Aunt Sally and family, Our thoughts are prayers are with you during this time. Uncle Bill was an amazing man and truly loved his family. He treated us as his family even though we were "adopted" into this wonderful family. He will truly be missed. Love John and Michele
- John and Michele (Friends of Kris Blackburn, Indianapolis, IN
Sally, We are very sorry to hear of Bill's passing. My father wanted me to let you know that he has many fond memories of you and Bill coming over to the house, sitting in the kitchen with he and my mom and just talking for hours. Bill was dad's favorite cousin. Take care. Norman
- The Montgomery's, Anderson, IN
Sally and Family, My dad, Myron "Teet" Snyder graduated from Lapel High School with both of you. He and my mom spoke / speak very fondly of both of you. Thoughts and prayers with you as you celebrate Bill's life.
- Nancy Snyder Coomer, Lapel, IN
Mr. Link was an amazing man! He will be missed! I loved the sweet smile and all the hugs from him and Sally. Please know that my thoughts and prayers are with you all.
- Amy Shelton, Pickens, SC
Sally, and all the family. Mr. Link was very special to me (and so are you Sally) I will miss him very much. You are in my thoughts and prayers, David
- David Harris, Sunset, SC
What an amazing man and an amazing life. I will always remember him at the family reunions and the fun auction. Praying for peace and comfort for you all.
- Terri Stanford Rinker, Noblesville, IN
Aunt Sally, Curt and the rest of the family... Uncle Bill will always have a place in my heart and I will cherish my memories of the times we were all together. Even the time when he took us out in his boat and it started filling up water! Wishing you all peace for comfort and courage to face the days ahead. Rest in peace Uncle Bill
- John and Laura Burke , Gilbert , AZ
Aunt Sally, Curt, Dawn and families, we were so sorry to hear of Uncle Bills passing. He was a great man who will be greatly missed. Our thought and prayers are with you all during this hard time. Love to you all!
- Steve and Michele Harrison and family, Noblesville, In
Sally and all the family. Through Ritch, I am reviving memories of you, Bill, Danny, Curt, Jerry, Blanche and Mose...I didn't know his name was Mosby until I read Bill's obituary. May you find peace and comfort and may God bless you! Love, Etta Sue
- Etta Sue Stevenson Gann, Noblesville, IN
Sally, Curt and family, I hope you all know how important Mr. Link was to me (and my family), he is the dearest person I have ever know, and such an inspiration to me (and Michael). He will always be in my heart and will always be remembered. I pray that God will comfort all of you in the days to come. Love Janet
- Janet DeBoe, Savannah, Ga
Sending love & prayers to the entire Linkenhoker family.
- Rebecca Hummel & John Joines, Alpharetta, GA
Our thoughts and prayers are with the Linkenhoker family, we have lost a man so loved by his family, a true WWII Hero and a member of the Greatest Generation. Much love to all of you. Chandra and Steve
- Chandra and Steve Kendall, St. Simons Island, GA
Services under the direction of:
Fox & Weeks Funeral Directors, Hodgson Chapel
912-352-7200
