Howard Linke Dies at 97; Lions Club Legend and Ex-Engineer With the City

Ask anyone who knew Howard Linke about him, and a smile will appear. A man of boundless energy, he’s being remembered fondly for his patriotism and service work as a member of the La Mesa Lions Club.

“Every year on Veterans Day, he would dress in full uniform and we would sing the Army hymn,” said the club’s president Beth Morgante. “He’d stand there so proud with the flag behind him and salute.”

Howard Charles Linke died Monday at Sharp Grossmont Hospital. He was 97. In 1954, he brought his family to La Mesa and worked as the city’s assistant city engineer for 26 years.

According to Morgante, state records indicate Linke was the longest living Lions Club member in California—with a perfect attendance for the 50 years “or something crazy like that.”

He served as the local group’s secretary for more than 30 years. His membership in La Mesa was a continuation of the international chapter he helped start in his hometown of Southington, CT.

Born in 1914, Linke was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army Reserve and served as an anti-aircraft artillery officer, fighting in North Africa and throughout Europe in World War II.

He left the service at the rank of major, and chose a profession where he could apply his degree in civil engineering earned nearly 10 years earlier.

He remained active long after retirement, whether skiing at Mammoth with his family into his 80s or playing in the La Mesa Senior Softball League until he was 92.

“I think with my father, he just didn’t want to slow down, he didn’t want to stop and he didn’t want to quit,” said his son, Col. H.T. Linke.

When Salt Lake City hosted the 2002 Winter Olympics, Linke was one of the people nominated locally to carry the torch through National City. He got to keep the torch he ran with.

As fellow Lions member and friend George Jones recalls, Linke, who was 15 years his senior, could easily outrun him on their slow-pitch softball team.

“We called him ‘Speedy Howard,’ ” Jones said. “He was a great asset and a great Lion.”

He was married to his wife, Helen, for 65 years before she passed away in 2005. His complete obituary can be found here.

He is remembered by family as a dear man who never forgot his humble beginnings.

“He was just a calm, steady, kind of regular guy,” H.T. Linke said. “He didn’t put on any airs about himself. On Christmas, he’d wear his red plaid pants, but he wasn’t really a showy guy.”

In addition to his son in San Diego, Linke is survived by his daughter, Dr. Hawley Linke of Columbus, Ohio, as well as his son-in-law, Anthony Young, and daughter-in-law Carol Parker Linke, and five grandchildren: Robert Stephen Martin Jr., Chali Parker Linke, Kari Wood Linke, Christen Linke Young and Dylan Howard Young.

A memorial service will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 24, at the Central Congregational Church on Lemon Avenue with a reception to follow. In his memory, donations can be sent to the United Service Organization or the La Mesa Lions Club Sight Fund at:

P.O. Box 1441

La Mesa, CA 91944