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Virgil Eugene Link

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Virgil Eugene Link Veteran

Birth
East Alton, Madison County, Illinois, USA
Death
28 Jul 2012 (aged 89)
Illinois, USA
Burial
Bethalto, Madison County, Illinois, USA Add to Map
Memorial ID
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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

Memorials may be sent in Virgil's name to Wood River Moose Lodge No. 1349, 1150 Vaughn Road, Wood River, IL 62095.
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

Memorials may be sent in Virgil's name to Wood River Moose Lodge No. 1349, 1150 Vaughn Road, Wood River, IL 62095.


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