Robert S. Linker

Robert S. Linker was born September 6, 1923. He passed away on November 1, 2022, at the age of 99. Bob was the son of Alvin and Fayette Linker. He attended Male High School, was in ROTC, captained the bowling team, and played football. He graduated Cum Laude in 1939 and enlisted in the Army in 1942. Bob attended Indiana University, where he was on the swim team, was a member of the Sigma Alpha Mu Fraternity, and graduated with a B.S. degree from the I.U. School of Business. He served in the Army from 1944 to 1950. During that time, he served in two theaters; and was recalled in 1951 during the Korean War. Bob was a member of the Louisville Rotary Club, The Temple, B'nai Brith, St. George Masonic Lodge, and a Kentucky Colonel. He met his gorgeous wife, Beatrice Brauer, in Belmar, NJ. Their romance bloomed via correspondence while he was in the service, and they married on February 19, 1947. He worked in the family business, Linker Distributing Company, and became president after the passing of his father, Alvin.

His son, Alan (Laurie), is an attorney with McBrayer PLLC. His daughter, Linda (Bill), is an Alternative Medicine Specialist. He is also survived by his grandchildren, Dena (Marc), Lisa, Brian (Jennifer), Jenny (Michael), Jodi (Steve), Jessica (Bradley), and Julie, and his great-grandchildren, Jacob, Lyla, Roxie, Skylar, Stella, Cecelia, Josh, Lucas, and Ramona Beatrice.

His major pastimes and hobbies included playing drums, tennis, reading, humor, and telling jokes. He kept his mind sharp with word jumbles and playing Free Cell.

Married for 71 years, Bob was devoted to the love of his life, his beloved wife, Bea. She preceded him in death in 2017. One of his greatest joys was traveling with her and collecting memorabilia of their extensive worldwide travels. Together they went on 14 cruises which were his favorite vacations. On those cruises, he served as Master of Ceremonies for many talent nights.

In Hollywood, they toured most of the big studios, where Bob mingled with many TV and movie stars. While there, he also enjoyed a Sugar Bowl game and one Super Bowl game.

They flew the Concord to London and returned on the Queen Elizabeth 2.

Funeral services are private. Expressions of sympathy may be made to the Julie Linker Fund administered by the Jewish Federation of Louisville, 3600 Dutchmans Lane, Louisville, KY 40205.