William Robert “Bob” Linskey, 92, passed away peacefully on Oct. 8, with his family by his side.
He was born on Nov. 29, 1928, in New Haven to William Francis Linskey and Laura Faith Chittenden. A lifelong resident of Guilford, Bob’s family line stretched back to the town’s founding when his ancestor William Chittenden arrived in 1639. He met the love of his life, Evelyn Mae Morse, in the 1st grade. They were married Dec. 10, 1949, and were devoted partners for 71 years.
Following his graduation from Guilford High School in 1946, Bob enlisted in the Navy. He proudly served in the submarine service on the USS K1, with Jimmy Carter as his commanding officer. Bob and Evelyn welcomed their daughter, Gail, in 1951 and their son, Thomas, in 1954.
After leaving the Navy, Bob worked for the New Haven Railroad for a short time before beginning a long career as a carpenter and estimator. He retired as the vice president of the George C. Field Company in Madison. Bob was a dedicated, third-generation volunteer fireman with the F.C. Spencer Hook and Ladder Company, where he served as a captain. From his early days, basketball, softball, and other sports were a passion and in later years he was an enthusiastic skier and tennis player.
Bob had a great appreciation for music and musical theater. In his retirement years, he enjoyed constructing model railroads as well as building beautiful wooden doll houses and toys for his beloved grandchildren. He was known for writing and reciting entertaining poems for all special family occasions. A lifelong lover of history and travel, he enjoyed a retirement trip to Galway, Ireland to visit the Linskey ancestral home.
He is survived by his loving wife Evelyn, daughter Gail Linskey Porteus and her husband David, and son Thomas Robert and his wife Sally Irons, all of Portland. He also leaves behind grandchildren Brendan Robert Porteus, Cara (Porteus) Hardacker and her husband Jason, Connor Linskey, and Emma Linskey and his great-grandson Declan Hardacker.
Family and friends are invited to attend services at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 16, at the Guilford Funeral Home, 115 Church Street, Guilford. A graveside service and reception will follow. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Guilford Keeping Society. To share a memory or leave condolences, visit www.guilfordfuneralhome.com.
