March 21, 1923 to the late John Henry de Linde and Hester Barber de Linde.
Henry was preceded in death by his loving wife of 67 years, Ruby Terry de Linde.
Henry graduated from Little Rock Central High School in 1940. During WWII he served in the Army as a Tabulating Machine Operator for the 26th Mobile Machine Records Unit. He was awarded 5 Bronze Stars for campaigns in the Rhineland, Ardennes, Central Europe, Normandy, and Northern France.
Henry’s military service provided him the opportunity to go to college and graduate from the University of Arkansas under the GI Bill. He was a lifelong learner, corresponding with people all over the world, and later as an awarded history writer and researcher. Mr. Google became one of his favorite friends.
Henry’s professional career was with State Farm Insurance as a claims man and later as an attorney negotiator where he was known as a tough, but fair and honest mediator.
His passions were his family and collecting Arkansas rocks and minerals. In
1973, he became a founding member of the Coon Creek Association. This no agenda,
no dues, no schedule organization included an elite group of geologist and mineral
enthusiasts from across the world. In their 20 year history they discovered 7 minerals
new to Arkansas and 5 minerals new to the world. In 1987, Henry had “Delindeite”, a
new species of mineral named in his honor. He recently had a specimen of “Wavellite”
given in his honor to the Smithsonian Museum.
Cherishing his memory are his, three children: Susan Hunter, (Doug), Steve de Linde,
(Lynda) Hot Springs, Arkansas, Mark de Linde, Owensville, Arkansas; six grandchildren,
Brittany Willis Evans, Megan de Linde Leonard (Derek), Madison de Linde, Jessica de
Linde Dyckman (Damian), Travis de Linde, and Jacob de Linde; 5.5 great
grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.
