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John Michael Pinkerton
06/18/1937 — 06/18/2002
From Richland, WA, US | Born in Yakima, Washington
John Michael Pinkerton
John Michael Pinkerton, age 65, died from pancreatic cancer on June 18, 2002. John was born in Yakima, WA on June 18, 1937. He graduated from Marquette High School in Yakima and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from Gonzaga University. He also earned a Bachelor degree in Industrial Education from Central Washington State University. After arriving in Richland in 1960, he was employed at the Hanford plant in Richland for many years in various capacities including Process Engineer, Training Specialist and Development Engineer. He was a licensed Professional Engineer in Washington State. He founded Richland Motorcycle in 1973 and operated the business until it was sold in 1981. He also owned Money Disk, a computer software mail order business. He retired from Boeing Computer Services in 1994 as a Software Program Manager.
He was active in community affairs including the Richland Model Rocket Society and Sage and Sand Citizen's Band Radio Club. He served over 10 years on the General Advisory Council for Vocational-Technical Education in the Tri-City area and various program advisory committees. His real love was the Boy Scout program. He held many positions including District Commissioner, Junior Leadership Training program director and Blue Mountain Council Executive Board member. He edited the Blue Mountain Spirit and prepared grant applications for the Council. The Blue Mountain Council awarded him the Silver Beaver in 1971. He was associated with the Boy Scout program at Central United Protestant Church since 1963. He was Scoutmaster of Troop 228 for over 20 years.
He is survived by his sister, Mary Edith Stevens, Yakima; aunts, Dorthy Rathbun, Ellensburg, Rita McKinney, Seattle; and extended family Terri, Maurice, Eddie and Michael Pease of Richland and numerous cousins. He was preceded in death by his brother, Joseph T. Pinkerton, sister, Audrey Ann Pinkerton and parents John Leslie and Edith Winifred Pinkerton of Yakima.
Memorials may be made to the Blue Mountain Council, Boy Scouts of America, 8478 W. Gage Blvd., Kennewick, WA 99336.
Viewing will be from 3:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Friday and 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Saturday at Einan's Funeral Home.
The funeral will be held at Central United Protestant Church on Saturday, June 22, 2002 at 6:00 p.m. Cremation and inurnment at Calvary Cemetery in Yakima will follow at a later date.
There are very few people who influenced my life as much as John Pinkerton. His mentorship during my youth helped to establish two important parts of my character and personality: the respect for good leadership and a love for the outdoors.
Perhaps most importantly, though, his role in my youth helped to create some of my fondest memories: A jeep trip through the Cascades to Blue Lake where we failed to catch a single trout but stared into the stars all summer night; A daytrip to the desert beneath Rattlesnake Mountain where we braved the November cold, cooked tinfoil lunches in a fire pit and practiced our marksmanship on a makeshift rifle range; A reward dinner for the scout leaders of Troop 228 at the Richland Holiday Inn where we ate like gentlemen with napkin in lap and correct silverware; and The meetings where we brainstormed the ideas that would lead to the camping and hiking trips that my lifelong friends and I still laugh about today despite our adult professions in faraway cities.
Please extend my sympathies and condolences to the family and all of the people upon whom Mr. Pinkerton made an impact. I knew John Pinkerton only during my early teenage years, but I have felt his influence every day of my life. I am a better person for having known him.
Pink:
You were an excellent and influential Scoutmaster. Thanks for all your hard work and guidance provided to this former member of your Boy Scout Troop 228.
John
A gifted, dedicated scout leader, who influenced my son and many other scouts to become the next generation of leaders to our nation.
First, my deepest condolences to John’s surviving family members. Their loss is truly great.
As a member of Troop 228, I was exposed to John’s engineering genious at a young age. I still remember on one occasion when John brought a then new apple II computer into a troop meeting and took it all apart, showing us what everything was. The outings we had back then are also great memories. John’s influence is one of the reasons that I decided to go back to school a few years ago and pursue an engineering career. Thanks John,
Matt
John, God called you back to Heaven way too soon.
When I moved totheTri Cities in 1990, John and other members of the Scout organization at CUP Church opened their arms and allowed me to join. John always had tremendouse faith in my abilities – for that I thank you John.
I have two sons who reached the rank of Eagle, in part because of knowing John and his enthusiasim for the program.
Rest well my friend. I will carry on the traditions of scouting to the best of my ability, knowing you believed in me.
I am very sorry to hear about John’s early death, my prayers are with his Family, and Friends. I knew him as a classmate and my date to the High School Prom. John was a really nice kind person to everyone he met. He will be missed by all who knew him.
God Bless,
LaVonne Thomas Tyson
We met John in ’82 when he came back to Hanford. John was the programmer in my Faye’s department and was a great co-worker. Always took the extra time to explain how things worked. He became a good friend to us. Helped us on home projects – especially with the computer. John loved helping people and really enjoyed vesting time in the Boy Scouts. John will be missed by all.
My sympathy for members of his family and friends.
John was a classmate of mine in High School. I remember him as a nice person, and one with a future ahead. Thank you for this opportunity. May he rest in peace.
I was a classmate of John’s and remember him well. He was always a classy guy, and known for his intellectual capabilities. We actually chummed around together on a number of occasions, and I never met anyone who didn’t like him. He was very low key and unpretentious. Sorry to hear about his untimely death, but it appears he led a good and productive life. My sincere sympathy to his family.
I remember so many good times with Pink. He was my scoutmaster when I got my Eagle Scout Award in 1969. I’ll never forget the camping trips and the work we did with the Indian dancing. I’ll miss you Pink.
sincerely,
Dave Burnham
There are very few people who influenced my life as much as John Pinkerton. His mentorship during my youth helped to establish two important parts of my character and personality: the respect for good leadership and a love for the outdoors.
Perhaps most importantly, though, his role in my youth helped to create some of my fondest memories: A jeep trip through the Cascades to Blue Lake where we failed to catch a single trout but stared into the stars all summer night; A daytrip to the desert beneath Rattlesnake Mountain where we braved the November cold, cooked tinfoil lunches in a fire pit and practiced our marksmanship on a makeshift rifle range; A reward dinner for the scout leaders of Troop 228 at the Richland Holiday Inn where we ate like gentlemen with napkin in lap and correct silverware; and The meetings where we brainstormed the ideas that would lead to the camping and hiking trips that my lifelong friends and I still laugh about today despite our adult professions in faraway cities.
Please extend my sympathies and condolences to the family and all of the people upon whom Mr. Pinkerton made an impact. I knew John Pinkerton only during my early teenage years, but I have felt his influence every day of my life. I am a better person for having known him.
Pink:
You were an excellent and influential Scoutmaster. Thanks for all your hard work and guidance provided to this former member of your Boy Scout Troop 228.
John
A gifted, dedicated scout leader, who influenced my son and many other scouts to become the next generation of leaders to our nation.
First, my deepest condolences to John’s surviving family members. Their loss is truly great.
As a member of Troop 228, I was exposed to John’s engineering genious at a young age. I still remember on one occasion when John brought a then new apple II computer into a troop meeting and took it all apart, showing us what everything was. The outings we had back then are also great memories. John’s influence is one of the reasons that I decided to go back to school a few years ago and pursue an engineering career. Thanks John,
Matt
John, God called you back to Heaven way too soon.
When I moved totheTri Cities in 1990, John and other members of the Scout organization at CUP Church opened their arms and allowed me to join. John always had tremendouse faith in my abilities – for that I thank you John.
I have two sons who reached the rank of Eagle, in part because of knowing John and his enthusiasim for the program.
Rest well my friend. I will carry on the traditions of scouting to the best of my ability, knowing you believed in me.
I am very sorry to hear about John’s early death, my prayers are with his Family, and Friends. I knew him as a classmate and my date to the High School Prom. John was a really nice kind person to everyone he met. He will be missed by all who knew him.
God Bless,
LaVonne Thomas Tyson
We met John in ’82 when he came back to Hanford. John was the programmer in my Faye’s department and was a great co-worker. Always took the extra time to explain how things worked. He became a good friend to us. Helped us on home projects – especially with the computer. John loved helping people and really enjoyed vesting time in the Boy Scouts. John will be missed by all.
My sympathy for members of his family and friends.
John was a classmate of mine in High School. I remember him as a nice person, and one with a future ahead. Thank you for this opportunity. May he rest in peace.
I was a classmate of John’s and remember him well. He was always a classy guy, and known for his intellectual capabilities. We actually chummed around together on a number of occasions, and I never met anyone who didn’t like him. He was very low key and unpretentious. Sorry to hear about his untimely death, but it appears he led a good and productive life. My sincere sympathy to his family.
I remember so many good times with Pink. He was my scoutmaster when I got my Eagle Scout Award in 1969. I’ll never forget the camping trips and the work we did with the Indian dancing. I’ll miss you Pink.
sincerely,
Dave Burnham
John was the first scout leader I met after moving to the Tri-Cities. He was a tremendous leader. His legacy will live on on the countless generations of the young men he guided. It was my distinct honor to have known him and to have witnessed first hand his love and support of our sons. I will miss him greatly.
My first neighbor and good friend, when I first moved to Richland in 1964 to work for General Electric. Shared many and varied conversations sitting on our back “stoops” on warm summer nights. I will miss John, and his distinctive outlook on life.
John was my second brother and the last living member of my family of origin. He was a great guy who was always there for me when I needed help or advice. I am going to miss him a great deal. “We’ll meet again, John. I love you.” Your Little Sister, Mary
Guestbook for
John Michael Pinkerton