Robert L. Pinkerton

Robert Lynn Pinkerton, nicknamed Pink, has passed away at the age of 96. He resided in Pensacola, Florida for over 30 years of his life. He departed on January 9, 2022. He was in the Rosewood Rehab facility under hospice care when it was time to be home with Jesus and to see his wife Willie again.

Robert was born on April 26, 1925 in Kirksville, MO to Wyla and Joe Pinkerton. He was 4 years old, when his younger sister Jean Pinkerton was born, when the stock market crashed, and the Great Depression hit. Robert, observing his father during this time took in many signs of the time. You had to find some way to make money and hold onto that job. You didn't buy new clothes, you fixed old ones. You went barefoot to save the life of your shoes and had to be frugal in many other ways. Phrases of "waste not, want not", and "a penny saved is a penny earned" is what he learned at the time and carried on into his future. His dad landed a government security job and that meant much traveling mostly in Missouri, so he never was planted long enough in the same school to make friends. During this time his youngest sibling Paul Pinkerton was born.

Then came World War II. Coming off of the depression for my dad this was an opportunity and an adventure. He went into training in quartermaster school, with sights hopefully to go to the Naval Academy. Unfortunately, a heart murmur disqualified him for the final test to get into the school and he was assigned to an LST unit and to radar school. During that time, he was promoted to Petty Officer, and was part of the Pacific fleet during World War II. Education was important, and when time was spent in Missouri he fell in love with Willie Ashens, and went to school with her, married her, and even at one point was her teacher in college.

He was driven to succeed as a breadwinner for the family, and landed a job in with Small Business Administration and with that government job it meant the family traveled when necessary for the job. Robert went on to the Navy ROTC program to prove he should have been an officer earlier, and worked years at the Naval Reserves program to ultimately become a Commander in the Navy. In total Robert Pinkerton was in the Navy for 30 years. He also worked on moving up the chain to Director of the western region for the Small Business Administration before he retired. As he lived his life from the perspective of the depression, he wanted to succeed at being the breadwinner and caring for his family and achieving being the best who could be in the Navy.

Robert is survived by his two sons, Mike Pinkerton, wife Renee and Joe Pinkerton, and grandchildren Scott Pinkerton, Sierra Beideck, Andi McMartin, Anna Pinkerton, Daniel Pinkerton, Chrystal Gildea, and Jamie Estes.

Robert Pinkerton will interred at the United States Naval Base in Pensacola, FL on February 10th at 10:00am. This will be a small family gathering with Military Honors. A memorial service will follow at First Presbyterian Church, 33 E Gregory St, Pensacola, FL at 11:30am on February 10th. A live stream service will be provided for those unable to attend.

So much spiritual growth happened to Robert Pinkerton while attending First Presbyterian Church in Pensacola. His faith and commitment have grown so much from the members of this church. The family asks that any gifts provided are given to the that church in thankfulness for their faith.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.oaklawnfunerals.com for the Pinkerton family.