John David Link

John David Link died Sunday, March 8, 2015 at Mission Hospital, Asheville, North Carolina. He was born on Pottstown, PA on October 30, 1920 to Stuart MacArthur Link and Helen Hammer Link. He was educated at the Calvert School in Baltimore, MD; the Sewickley Academy in Sewickley, PA; the Hill School in Pottstown, PA (graduated Cum Laude); Princeton University in Princeton, NJ (graduated with high honors in mechanical engineering); Midshipmen School; Notre Dame in South Bend, IN (for electronics); Harvard University in Cambridge, MA; MIT in Boston, MA (for radar); US Naval Submarine School in New London, CT. During WWII, he entered active duty in the U.S. Navy on April 1, 1943 and was honorably discharged on May 25, 1946. He later attained the rank of Lieutenant Commander. During his active duty he served aboard a submarine, the USS Hawkbill (SS366), in the southwest Pacific Ocean area. The Hawkbill sank 13 ships and damaged 13 ships on five war patrols. On May 27, 1944, he married the love of his live, Ruth Ann Robinson of Newton, MA. Following service in the Navy, Mr. Link was employed by US Rubber Co., in Naugatuck, CT; by Barium Steel and Forge Co. in Canton, OH; by Ford Motor Co. in Canton, OH; by Olin Corporation in New Haven, CT, then in New York, NY; then in South San Francisco, CA and then in Pisgah Forest, NC. His duties included industrial engineering, industrial relations, labor relations, manufacturing management, arms research (Winchester Repeating Arms), Assistant to Corporate Executive Vice President, Plants Manager, Corporate Vice President and General Manager of Olin Film Division. Before and after retirement from Olin he served on the Board at the Asheville Art Museum, Planned Parenthood and Meals on Wheels. He and his wife delivered meals for a number of years to recipients on 10 different Meals on Wheels routes. He was a member of Civitan and the Country Club of Asheville. He has spent summers in New Hampshire since his birth, and he and his wife have spent 4 months of the year in NH since his retirement in 1985 up until 2010. He and his wife traveled widely to the Philippines, South Korea, China, Hong Kong, Australia, England, France, Germany, Holland, Romania, Hungary, Russia, Finland, Bulgaria, Denmark, Poland, Austria, Switzerland, Norway, Sweden, Egypt, South Africa, Zimbabwe (Rhodesia), Zambia and Antarctica. Over the years he has enjoyed swimming, snorkeling, scuba diving, canoeing, rowing, sculling, sailing, windsurfing, bicycling, motorcycling, soaring, flying, paraplaning, hiking, rock climbing, gardening and reading. He was predeceased by his wife of almost 70 years, Ruth Ann Robinson Link. He is survived by three daughters, Melinda A. Lincoln and spouse Sperry Graham Lincoln of North Haven, CT; Melissa A. Gunther and spouse Robert C. Gunther, MD of Asheville, NC; Melanie E. Beck and spouse Jerold M. Gotbeter of Charleston, SC; and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren. A private service was held. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Meals on Wheels or a favorite charity. Groce Funeral Home at Lake Julian assisted the family.