“Richard Linson, 90, passed away peacefully in his sleep on Saturday August 13th, . “Dick” or “D” was a loving great-grandfather, grandfather, father, brother, companion and friend to many. Predicated in passing by wife Nancy, Dick is survived by daughter Linda Rife (spouse Mike), sons Richard Linson (spouse Marvie), Tim Linson (spouse Michelle), and loving companion of 11 years, Sue McDonald; also eight grandchildren and 1 great grandchild.
Life and Career:
Dick loved sports…..playing, managing, refereeing or just watching (especially the Buckeyes). One of Dick’s sports highlights was being captain of the 1951 East High School Basketball team out of Columbus, Ohio that won the Ohio State basketball title that year. Dick also played Baseball and Football while at East. He earned an invite to attend the University of Kentucky to play football for Paul “Bear” Bryant however, realizing the college game wasn’t for him, decided to come back home and marry Nancy Cahill, and start a family. They did just that living in Bexley, OH until Nancy’s untimely passing in 1965. Dick eventually built a house in Gahanna, OH in 1969, and ended up living in Gahanna the rest of his life.
Dick continued to benefit from his love of sports with a salesman job at Harley Davidson sporting goods. The company changed hands over to Agler Davidson sporting goods and he decided to take his talents to a newer sporting goods store, Berry’s. While at Berry’s, Dick worked with several people that are still friends today.
Dick continued to sell sporting goods at Berry’s for 10 years and then decided to give selling cars a try. His first job in car sales was at Jack Maxton as a new car salesman. Dick quickly found success as a car salesman becoming Jack Maxton salesman of the month, and year, multiple times. Like past jobs, he continued to build friendships with coworkers and customers that are/were still in contact today. After 10 years at Jack Maxton, Dick changed companies over to Haydocy for a short time before taking a job at the City of Columbus.
Though Dick always claimed he could sell anything to anybody, he grew weary of the constant pressures of being a car salesman, Dick excelled as an outdoor maintenance worker through multiple promotions and priority assignments. Dick stayed at the City of Columbus until he retired when he was 70.
Softball:
While building a career and raising a family with Nancy, Dick still found time to compete and succeed in sports. Dick played for one of the best slow-pitch softball teams in the area, Miller Builders. Softball was becoming very popular and it allowed Dick to travel and compete against the best teams in the country. Dick continued his softball career with Club 185 who was the first over 35 year old team to ever win the City in Columbus Champ of Champs. in 1977, Dick was asked to become the field manager of the first pro softball team in Columbus, OH…..the Columbus All Americans. After a short stint with the All Americans, Dick still played for local teams until he retired at the age of 50. In honor of his lifetime accomplishments in softball, specifically in Columbus, Dick was selected unanimously to the Columbus Softball Hall of Fame in 1996. He, and his son Tim, are one of the few father-sons to be inducted in the Hall of Fame.
Passions and Memories:
Being in Gahanna most of his life, it was not uncommon to visit anywhere in Gahanna and have someone know Dick from somewhere. Dick relied on his children and friends to get by a tough time after his wife (and mother of his children) passed but ultimately found the other love of his life in Sue McDonald in 2011. Dick loved Sue and the two were inseparable. They loved to play board games, cards and occasionally make trips to see Tim play softball downtown. Dick loved the holidays and special family occasions and always made them when he was healthy enough to do so (and he didn’t have to travel over any bridges).
Dick loved life and the part he played in it. He was proud of his family, proud of his accomplishments, and of his children’s accomplishments. He rarely got caught up in the past and constantly looked forward, enjoyed the now, and not worrying about what might/could have been. Dick always made an impression on the many people he met and his many friends is a testament to how he treated people.
Arrangements entrusted to SCHOEDINGER NORTHEAST.
Please join us in celebrating the life of Dick Linson on Sunday, September 4th from 2pm-6pm at the Gahanna VFW #4719, 75 West Johnstown Rd, Gahanna, OH 43230.
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