James "Pinky" Randall Pinkston

July 20, 1931 – January 25, 2019

Pinky, beloved husband, incredible father, super grandfather, sweet uncle and lifelong friend passed away peacefully on January 25, 2019 at Alta Vita Memory Care Center in Longmont, Colorado.

Pinky was born on July 20, 1931 in Bulls Gap, Tennessee to Marshall and Myrtle (Cox) Pinkston. He grew up in Bulls Gap and in his senior year of high school was voted “Most Athletic Male”. After graduating from Bulls Gap High School, he joined the United States Air Force.

In 1951, while stationed at Warren Air Force Base in Cheyenne, Wyoming, he took a Greyhound Bus to Denver for some R & R. While in Denver he met the love of his life, Shirley Ann (Trumbo) Pinkston at The Mammoth Roller-Skating Rink. Pinky and Shirley were married on March 29, 1952 at Evangelical United Brethren Church on Broadway in Boulder, Colorado. The building is now part of the University of Colorado-Boulder Institute of Behavioral Science.

After serving his country in South Korea during the Korean Conflict, as an electrical lineman he became an electrician and joined I.B.E.W. Local 68 in Denver, Colorado. He has been an active member of the Union for more than 60 years. He worked for Howard Electric, Boulder City Electric, Louisville Electric, and many others.

Pinky and Shirley were big square dancers (she sewed all their shirts and dresses) and they enjoyed bowling together. He was an avid sports enthusiast and a huge fisherman, although he never liked to eat fish. He was involved with and enjoyed watching anything and everything associated with sports. Pinky also coached several Legion Baseball teams in North Boulder and was very involved in the Boulder sports community.

Pinky’s favorite home away from home was his treasured cabin in Red Feather Lakes, Colorado. He spent as much time as he could at the cabin and was able to share his love of the forest and outdoors with his son Bruce, a true bond to be shared between a father and son. Red Feather Lakes was his haven. He and Shirley also traveled to their winter home in Sun City, Arizona to spend several months in a warmer climate and of course take in a few spring training games of their beloved Colorado Rockies. He and his buddy Stan loved to go to all the local garage sales and afterwards they would stop at Costco for a $1.00 hot dog.

After his retirement, Pinky would travel to Alaska to go salmon and deep-sea fishing with his son, Bruce. On his first trip he caught a 176-pound Halibut, his personal best record! He was so proud of that Halibut.

He is survived by his daughter, Roxana Madrid and her husband Ron of Berthoud, Colorado, his son Bruce Pinkston of Big Lake, Alaska, his grandson Justin Madrid, of Fort Collins, Colorado, his granddaughter Erica Madrid and her wife Amy of Aurora, Colorado, great-grandsons Marshall and Corbin Madrid, with another great-grandson on the way. He is also survived by a sister Mary, a brother Jack and several nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his beloved wife, Shirley, his parents, and several brother’s and sister’s.

With the support of Crist Mortuary, memorial services with Military Funeral Honors, will be held at the Boulder Elks Lodge, 3975 28th ST., Boulder, Colorado at 11:00AM on February 4, 2019. Interment will be directly following the service at Green Mountain Cemetery 290 20th Street in Boulder, Colorado.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be sent in Pinky’s name to AccentCare Hospice, 4065 St. Cloud Dr., Loveland, CO 80538. The family is thankful for AccentCare’s support and truly humbled by the outpouring of love and support from family and friends.