Obituary of David Thomas Linkletter

David Thomas Linkletter passed away peacefully at the age of sixty-one at the Drew Nursing Home in Sackville, New Brunswick on Friday, September 19th, 2014. Diagnosed with Parkinson’s Syndrome over a decade ago, he bore the disease with the dignity and grace that was typical of him. David was born in Montreal and grew up in Pointe Claire, Quebec and at the family cottage in Brule, Nova Scotia. He lived in various places in Canada including Sackville, Ottawa, Fredericton, Halifax and British Columbia, and attended both Mount Allison and St. Mary’s Universities. David was a graduate of John Rennie High School and the University of New Brunswick, where he received a Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering. He was a member of the Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of BC. He was also a Mason. Among the companies David worked for throughout his career are Warnock Hersey, Schlumberger, Canadian Pacific, Osburn Wood Stoves and Pacific Energy. David’s specialty was safety standards and wood stove design and testing. His work took him to Alberta, Montreal and several locations in British Columbia, including Vancouver, Victoria and Smithers. He lived for many years with his wife and son in Shawnigan Lake on Vancouver Island. Dave loved to travel. He’d been to Europe, the Middle East, Japan, Haiti and across Canada many times. He worked for the railroad in western Canada as a young man. He was a motorcycle enthusiast and made one memorable trip across Canada on his first bike. He loved cars and motorcycles and collected and worked on many of them. Karate, hockey and skiing were also passions. He was an enthusiastic hiker and camper and, as a young man, he was also a climber. A curious, creative and inventive man, David was a gifted musician and composer, furniture builder, a positive, optimistic and talented problem solver. David was pre-deceased by his father, Dr. Alfred Linkletter; mother, Dorothy Johnson Linkletter as well as by his brothers- in-law, George Fotheringham and John Farmer. David is survived by his beloved son, Christopher Linkletter and former wife Lynette Linkletter of Shawnigan Lake, BC; close friend and first wife Jenny Munday (Sackville, NB); sisters: Janet Fotheringham (Sackville, NB), Judy Linkletter (Tony Lewis) of Salmon Arm, BC and Susan Linkletter of Hobart, Tasmania; nieces and nephews: Jennifer Fotheringham-Hall (Geoff) of Ottawa, Dr. Mary Fotheringham (Toronto), Steven Lewis (Calgary), Sarah Lewis (Ibiza, Spain), Steve Farmer and Sophie Bullock (Nick) of Hobart, Tasmania; and grandnephew Max Fotheringham-Hall. The family wants to thank Dave’s personal care workers and friends Joice Dobson, Debbie Alder and Kirk Ferguson, as well as the nurses and staff of the Drew Nursing Home. Arrangements have been entrusted to Campbell’s Funeral Home, 89 Bridge Street, Sackville, N.B. (506) 364-8188. There will be a memorial reception at the Drew Nursing Home in Sackville on Friday, September 26th, 2-4 pm. A private family burial will take place in the Sackville Cemetery. In memory of David, donations may be made to a charity of the donor’s choice, the Parkinson’s Society of Canada or the Autism Society of Canada.