Lyman Linfesty

1918 - 2021

LYMAN DANIEL LINFESTY

1918- 2021

Lyman Daniel Linfesty, better known as Dan, passed away on March 15, 2021. At 103 years old, he 'd probably say he had, outlived his welcome, but he always believed in getting his money 's worth out of everything, including life.

He was born in Long Beach, CA in January of 1918, to William Abram & Margaret Davis Linfesty in what was, apparently, an uneventful birth as no one remembered the exact date. His parents didn't remember if he came into the world on the 21st or the 23rd, so they split the difference and settled on the 22nd as the day to celebrate birthdays, only finding out years later that was, in fact, correct. At least that's the way he liked to tell the story.

He was the youngest, by a decade, of two brothers, William & Charles, whom he looked up to & who encouraged a mischievous attitude, & trouble-making curiosity. Bill had the drive, Charles had charm, both earning medical degrees, leaving Dan the role of enjoying life as it came his way.

He may have grown up with a slightly elevated sense of his own importance. In a letter to his brother, Charles, Dan once wrote, Will you tell me when the marriage comes off as I might want to be present. By the above line you might know that I give my consent (which is all that is needed) so you can now marry your Martha. A relief, to his future sister-in-law, as Dan's approval was the asphalt that paved the way for her nuptials.

As Dan's father was a mining engineer, the family moved around, both within the US & the Philippines, where Dan graduated from high school. He loved to figure out how things worked & had some original ideas, which his father encouraged by suggesting he make working drawings & models, and running materials tests. Taught that functionality was as important as creativity; as an adult, Dan would gravitate to mechanical engineering & respect scientific discipline.

He enlisted in the US Army in 1941, at the age of 23; initially assigned to Ft. Lewis attached to the Armor Division. Subsequently, he was assigned to duty in LA, TX, and finally landed at Fort Knox, KY. During his military career, both active duty and commissioned officer in the Reserves, Dan served as a Planning & Training officer, Tank Unit Commander and was a Vehicle Maintenance Instructor (both wheel and track). He retired from the Army in 1978. He wasn't assigned overseas during World War II, and told his children that he remained stateside to protect the Gold Reserves at the Federal Depository.

Dan was a highly intelligent man, but was not a scholar. As he had an innate inquisitiveness about all things, he enjoyed learning through self-discovery, rather than sitting at a desk being lectured at; and, attributed his advanced education & the degrees he attained in his lifetime to the patience & pity of his teachers & the expectations of his family. As a Chemist, he worked a variety of jobs in the medical & agricultural fields. In an ironic twist, his career path led him to teaching. As a high school teacher, Dan found himself giving lectures in classrooms to kids sitting at desks, similar to ones he so disliked in his youth. To his former students, he begs their forgiveness.

In 1954, Dan slid an engagement ring on the love of his life's finger, handed her a jewelers loupe (as a joke...it wasn't THAT small); and proposed, on bended knee, no less, to Julia Fay Perkins and was rewarded with the response he hoped to hear. They were married in August that same year and began their life's journey together.

In Julia, Dan found the wife he loved throughout their 59 years together & whom he mourned when she passed away in 2013. They enjoyed many years exploring the outdoors, on beaches and in the woods: hiking, camping, backpacking, and going on picnics. They shared a love of books and spent many hours reading it was a shared passion & one of the reasons Julia fell in love with him. He didn't think a woman with her nose stuck in a book was unattractive or wasting her time.

Dan & Julia enjoyed exchanging ideas & opinions on many topics...not always in agreement; but, as they valued & respected each other, arguments were few & far between. In their relationship, they were always comfortable both in conversation and shared silence; and, they complemented each other during the entirety of their marriage.

The plan was to have two children, a boy and a girl; and, they were successful in doing exactly that when they were blessed with a son Paul and, then later, a daughter Leslie. Dan was a great Father, creating a world of wonder for his children. He left them a legacy of precious memories while imparting wisdom & instilling them with his values. As his children plotted their own course, he allowed them the freedom to make their own mistakes, but he always stood behind them...with a bear hug, ready to fix the problem, offer help & advice, wipe away tears; and if needed, kick them in the butt, or lecture them on their stupidity. He was quite relieved those mistakes were kept to a minimum & were never life threatening.

He was a true Renaissance man, with many talents & areas of knowledge. Over the years, he pursued many interests that caught his fancy. Played chess, took flying lessons & went sailing , photography, archery, & history, to name a few. He loved aquariums, computers (before every home had one), & enjoyed tinkering in his garage & solving puzzles. He loved watching football, & would cheer on, loudly, his favorite West Coast teams. He loved to see kites fly & children at play. He was a self-taught mechanic and the original DIYer, so when home & car repairs were needed, Dan was on-the-job!

He liked going to All-You-Can Eat Buffet restaurants & felt let down if family members didn't go back for thirds. He never met a dog he didnt love & that didn't love him back. The same cannot be said of cats, he knew many, only loved one & the feeling wasn't entirely mutual. He had an enduring crush on the actress, Maureen O'Hara. He was ready to lend a helping hand to friends, acquaintances & strangers, alike & if he fell short of doing his best, he's the only one who thought so.

His devout feistiness and stubbornness served him well throughout his life, he liked to share his sense of humor through his sarcastic witticisms & observations. He believed in common sense & and took pains to point out a lack of this trait in others. He struggled with being a patient man; and lost that battle when he found himself standing in line or waiting in traffic.

One of Dan's few regrets, and isn't that remarkable given the length of his life, was his impatience with his young son's curiosity as he went about with weekend repairs. The What are you doing? & What do you use those tools for? often ignored, squashed any interest Paul might have developed. It also meant late night phone calls, when his son had car troubles.

Over his lifetime, Dan held a few titles that he was proud of: Devoted Son & Brother, Loving Husband, Adoring Father, US Army Veteran, & on occasion, boasted about being (with a twinkle in his eye), Great Procrastinator, and finally, Old Curmudgeon. The last he held longer than expected, but he did enjoy its' perks.

Dan is being remembered at an inurnment service at the National Cemetery of Bakersfield on June 28th, 2021 at 10:00 am. Dan will not be in attendance as he will be strolling down the beach, hand-in-hand with his wife Julia, favorite dogs at his feet, watching the sunset over the water.

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