Richard Pliny Link

Richard Pliny Link, age 78, of Memphis TN, passed away on Friday, April 5, 2024. Richard is survived by his wife, Jana; his children Brian and wife Lyndsay, Elise and husband Nick, Andrew, and Chris and wife Amy; grandchildren Ayden, Tristan, Oliver, Sawyer, Fern, and Birdie; his brother George; and many in-laws, nieces, nephews, and cousins. He was predeceased by his parents, Pliny and Isabella; sister Rose Marie, and son Ricky.

Richard was born on April 22, 1945 in Rome, NY. He found his first calling out of high school and started a career in the U.S. Air Force where he would go on to travel the world, serve in Vietnam, join the prestigious USAF Thunderbirds, and meet his loving wife Jana of 48 years. In 1982 Richard would retire from service for medical reasons and start a new journey in life in San Antonio, TX as a senior executive with the company Shopsmith wherein he could celebrate his love for carpentry, working with wood, and meeting new people from across the United States.

After well over a decade with the company, Richard would go on to retire again in Memphis, TN in search of new passions - which he would discover in the form of martial arts. Over the course of many years of studying and teaching the art of Taekwondo, he would reach the rank of 2nd degree black belt - a feat made even more impressive by the fact that he was a double transplant survivor. Afterwards he found a deep love for the art of Tai Chi, wherein he would spend the rest of his days teaching and sharing the art with others - both with and without disabilities - across the United States and around the world as a Master Trainer.

Richard loved to learn and he mastered everything that he set his sights on. But there was far more to the man than his career. He had a deep love for music, and even played in a folk band, The Whosits, across the state of Texas for a number of years. He loved to create and build all sorts of things - be it furniture, instruments, knick knacks, belt boards, any variety of laser engraved crafts… if one could dream it then he could probably make it. He was fascinated by American history and loved to go deep into topics such as Native American heritage, the Civil War, and WW2. He loved movies, television, and books - especially if they were scary or set in some fantasy/sci-fi realm. He enjoyed the outdoors and gardening. He was especially proud of his hand made Koi ponds that he built and tended to for a number of years.

While Richard accumulated a wide variety of skills and life experiences across his many years, one constant thing that he valued most was his connection with people. He rarely met anyone that he didn’t like, and loved to offer his services and time to others. If humanity was a currency then Richard was one of the wealthiest among us.

Of all the people in his life, Richard loved and was especially proud of his family - his wife, his children, and many grandchildren.

Life was never easy for Richard, having been plagued with ailments such as kidney disease and cancer but he lived every day to the fullest with positivity and grace - fully determined to experience life on his own terms. Everything that he did in life - no matter how easy or challenging - he did so with strength, love, and grace.

Richard Link was a truly amazing man. He was loved and will be deeply missed by all.

A visitation gathering of family and friends for Richard will be held from 3:00p to 6:00p on Sunday, April 21st at Memphis Funeral Home and Memorial Gardens, 3700 North Germantown Parkway, Bartlett, TN 38133. A service to celebrate his life will be held the following day on Monday, April 22nd at 11:00a to 12:00p, 3700 North Germantown Parkway, Bartlett, TN 38133.

A private military burial with full honors will be held with close family and friends in attendance.

In lieu of flowers the family would offer you to consider a donation in his name to St. Jude or the Wounded Warrior Project.

“When my old man grinned, nobody could help but grin too…”

- Ernest Hemingway