William John Flink

William "Bill" Flink February 17, 1920 - January 1, 2018 Wenatchee, WA William John Flink was born on February 17, 1920, in Hingham (Hill County), MT, to Emma Barta Flink and William Elmer Flink. He passed away January 1, 2018, at Central Washington Hospital following a sudden illness. Bill was born and raised in Montana along with his sister, Alice. He lived on the family homestead and attended grade school in Shelby, MT, and graduated from Oilmont High School. Following graduation, he began working the family land, until the passing of his father at age 20. At age 21, he left Oilmont and was inducted into the U.S. Army in Missoula, MT, where he began service with the Military Police. He served in the Pacific Theater in Luzon and New Guinea. He was proud of his service, and was awarded the Asiatic Pacific Service Medal along with Philippine Liberation Medal with a bronze service star and Arrowhead. In 1944, following demobilization of his post, he received an honorable discharge at Fort Lewis in Tacoma, WA. Bill rejoined his mother who had relocated to Wenatchee, WA. He attended trade school in the Wenatchee area, on the GI bill, to learn refrigeration and air conditioning, which was a fairly new technology at that time. There, he learned the skills that would stick with him, and enjoyed many years of taking care of his home and vehicles. Eventually, he opened and operated Flinks Appliance Store on South Wenatchee Avenue. Even at 97, he enjoyed tinkering, and engineering what he needed with those skills. He earned his real estate license and spent time working in the real estate business, and for the Chelan County PUD. He owned and operated an orchard on Springwater St. for many years, which he considered his favorite of all occupations, before retiring. At the time of his death, he resided at Colonial Vista Retirement Center, where he enjoyed reconnecting with other friends of the valley and made many new friends as well. He enjoyed a life of routine, good health, and good friends. He is survived by his daughters: Janice (Bruce) Thompson of Lake Stevens, WA, Deanna (Gordon) Wildes of Whidbey Island, WA; and grandsons: Aaron, Alex, Cameron, and Jesse. Although Dad remained mostly independent, we would like to acknowledge the staff at Colonial Vista for their dedication to him, and all their residents. Remembrances may be made to YWCA North Central Washington.