John William L. Brink, of Florence, was born in Lauderdale County on Nov. 30, 1920, to John Maurice Brink and Annie Beckman Brink. The loving father, husband, grandfather and great-grandfather passed away Sunday, May 16, 2004. His wife, Betty Brink, sister, Mildred Taylor, mother and father preceded him in death.He was a faithful member of St. Joseph Catholic Church, where he served as altar boy for 74 years, until he could no longer remember what to do. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus, Council 3989, a Scout leader, ball player, a U.S. Navy veteran of World War II and the Korean War. He was an RSVP volunteer, retired carpenter from TVA and was a member of the Carpenters Local 109. After retiring from TVA, his love for the church at St. Joseph drew him to become involved in the maintenance of the church and grounds for a number of years.He leaves behind his children, Mary Ann Augustin (Arthur), Shelby, Neb., Dorothy Woods, Sarah McDougal (Ronnie), Peggy Wallace (James), of Florence, Tom Brink (Penny), of Huntsville, Alice Smith (Danny), of Alabaster, Billy Brink, of Florence, Bob Brink (Diana), of Seattle, Wash., Jimmy Brink (Susanne), Danny Brink (Shauna), of Florence; 19 grandchildren; 18 great-grandchildren; two brothers, Joe Brink, of Florence, and George Brink, of Knoxville, Tenn.; sister, Dot Thornton (Dale), of Sheffield; two sisters-in-law; one brother-in-law; nieces, nephews, great-nieces and nephews.Visitation will begin with the rosary at 5:45 p.m. Thursday, May 20, 2004, at St. Joseph Catholic Church. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at the church at 11 a.m. Friday, May 21, by the Rev. Andrew Sullivan, pastor of St. Joseph Church. Concelebrates will be the Rev. Patrick J. Tierney, V.F., pastor of Our Lady of the Shoals, and the Rev. Abbot Victor Clark, O.S.B., pastor of St. Michael Catholic Church, St. Florian. Burial will follow in Greenview Memorial Park, with military honors accorded at graveside.Active pallbearers will be his former Scout troop No. 27 members, Robbie Talcot, Chip Boggan, Chris Rohling, Jay Rosenberger, Andrew Valente, Steve Mueller, Freddie Franck and Matt Valente.Honorary pallbearers will be members of the Knights of Columbus, Council No. 3989.The family would like to thank Janet, a devoted granddaughter who took special care of her grandfather and her son, Sam, who helped with his great-grandfather. The family would also like to thank caregiver Rosa L. Young, the staff of Southern Care Hospice, especially Mary Beth Rohling and Wanda Terry. Also, special thanks to Tom Foster, Freddie Franck, David Pongetti and Dr. Paul Stangel.In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Southern Care Hospice, C.A.R.D., to St. Joseph Church Building Fund or St. Joseph School Foundation.Greenview Funeral Home, of Florence, is directing..
Published in Florence Times Daily on May 20, 2004