| 1. | Virgil Eugene Link was born on 15 Jul 1923 in Wood River, Madison, Illinois, USA (son of Homer Link and Emma); died on 28 Jul 2012 in La Marque, Galveston, Texas, USA; was buried in Bethalto, Madison, Illinois, USA. Other Events and Attributes:
Notes:
Died:
Virgil Eugene Link, loving husband, father, grandfather and friend, passed on peacefully on July 28, 2012, in La Marque, Texas.
A graveside service will be held at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 1, at Roselawn Cemetery in Bethalto under the direction of Marks Mortuary, with Scott Levan officiating.
Virgil was born on July 15, 1923, in Wood River, where he resided until moving to Texas in January of this year to be closer to his son, Dennis, and daughter-in-law, Jacki's family in the Texas City, Texas, area.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Emma and Homer Link, wife, Doris Darr Link, and son, Ron Link.
Survivors include his wife, Ada Goodman Link; her daughters, Penny Walker and children, Ryan and Kelly; Vickie Chestnut, husband, Don and their children, Brian Chestnut and Cheryl Watts; and son, Kevin Goodman, wife, Becky, and their children, Kristin Martin and Megan Pope. Also left to cherish Virgil's memories are brothers, Charles and wife, Eunice, of Phoenix, Ariz., and Lee of East Alton; son, Dennis Link and daughter-in-law, Jacki, and grandsons, Chad and wife, Mandy, Jerid and wife, Amy, and Joe and wife, Andrea, Scott, Todd and wife, Ali and Aaron Link; and granddaughter, Tara Link. Virgil also took great joy in times spent with his 14 grandchildren, 13 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandson.
Special thanks to the love, support and friendship from Jim and Berta Berger Darr, Mark, Antra, Gene, Janet, Sabreena and Lorre Berger from San Diego, Calif., Curtis and Karen Berger from Durango, Colo., Liz, Molly and Katie Keister from Chesapeake, Va., Susie Cotter and John and Blondie Godar from Alton, and Bill and Cathy Clark from Bethalto.
Virgil shared many great memories of the time he spent as a teenager hauling ice with his Uncle Jim Buckner in Wood River. At the age of 22, in 1945, he worked on a special U.S. Army War Department task force, in the state of Washington, helping to create the atomic bomb that contributed to the end of World War II. Virgil hired in at Clark Oil in 1950 and retired in 1984 with 34 years of dedicated service. He proudly wore his retirement watch right up to the end of his life here on earth. Virgil was a very loyal, long-term member of the Wood River Moose Lodge, where friends and family would gather almost every Friday night for fish, fellowship and a good time for all.
Virgil was also a lifetime St. Louis Cardinals baseball fan. He rarely missed a game listening to Harry Cary or Jack Buck on the radio or in later years watching the games with his wife, Ada, on TV. Virgil didn't hesitate to give the 2011 world champion Cardinal players and coaches some "constructive" advice on the best way to play America's favorite pastime. God recruited Virgil to watch over the Cardinals during this year's run back to the playoffs. Go Cardinals!
Favorite memories of Virgil will be his kind heart, passion for family and friends and competitive, yet fun, nature when playing cards, pool, ping-pong, shuffle board, chess or any game. He taught us to play to win, learn from your loses and always put forth your best effort at home, work and play. We are truly blessed to have known Virgil as a father, grandfather and friend and are better people because of his love, guidance and caring attitude. He would want us to continue to love and support each other and cherish our time together until we meet again in eternal life.
One of Virgil's passions was writing poems to family members and friends over the years. As a tribute to Grandpa Link and his poetic talents, his grandson, Jerid Link wrote the following poem.
A Poet's Goodbye
As I shed this mortal coil
Farewell to all my friends
Please keep me in your hearts
Until we meet again.
Please send my love to others
Whose eyes this does not reach
Take comfort in these words
And the lessons that they teach
May our love not be forgotten
May it always be agreed
To speak kindly of me often
Goodbye, Good luck ... God Speed
Virgil married Doris Jean Darr on 11 Feb 1956. Doris (daughter of James Darr and Mildred Simpson) was born in 1929; died in 1990. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]
Children:
- Ronald E. Link was born on 1 Aug 1947; died on 9 Nov 1995.
Virgil married Ada Mae Lasbury on 22 Jul 1991. Ada (daughter of Edwin Woodside Lasbury and Alice Josephine McFetridge) was born on 12 Oct 1923 in Wood River, Madison, Illinois, USA; died on 27 Sep 2012 in Jerseyville, Jersey, Illinois, USA; was buried on 2 Oct 2012 in Edwardsville, Madison, Illinois, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]
|
1923 - 2012 (89 years)