John Edward Link, 82, of Washington Court House, Ohio passed away Wednesday, April 10, 2024, at 3:45 a.m. at home, surrounded by his loving family. He had courageously fought cancer since 2017, rarely complaining, and always wearing that infamous smile, throughout his entire journey.
John was born January 8, 1942, in Chicago, IL the son of John Sebastian and June Veita (Marchand) Link. After Graduating from Arlington Heights High School in 1960, John attended the University of Wisconsin (Whitewater Division), then transferring to graduate from Michigan State University in 1965, with a BA in Restaurant and Hotel Management. John also proudly served in the Marines (Camp Lejeune) from 1965-1971 as a Sergeant; always living true to their creed “Conquering all obstacles, both large and small, I shall never quit.”
John met his “soulmate for life” while having a snowball fight at MSU; Mary Opdyke. “You know when you know” … they met in May 1965, were engaged in June of 1965, and married March 26, 1966. Fifty-eight years later, with multiple homes in multiple states, three children, an extraordinarily successful business, traveling from coast to coast and through it all a love for God and fulfilling his greatest dream, to have a family with love in it.
John was a member and started many committees throughout his years; always with a passion to “serve others”; St. Andrews Episcopal Church (All Saints) – Senior Warden, Junior Warden, Vestry Member, Treasurer, Eucharist Assistant, President of the Proctor Conference Center Board; Symposiarch’s (The Order); Fayette County Finance Club; Venison Deer Club; Washington Court House County Club.
John was most proud of his family and the business he had built through innovation, determination, and nurtured relationships over decades of tireless work. B & B Creative Marketing started as B & B Food Sales in 1978, in Detroit MI. After spending and seeing the tremendous amount of Pizza and Italian potential in the OH market, John and Mary moved their family to Washington Court House in 1984. At that point John became known for his bold ideas and “outside the box” thinking… building a legendary legacy that his children try to live up to. Over the years John brought PREMIUM Wisconsin cheese to the region, brought his concept of high-quality PREMADE pizza dough to life and was instrumental in helping to bring sliced pepperoni to the market as well. Thousands of customers have benefited from his tireless efforts over the years. The pride John’s family feels in his ground-breaking concepts for the Pizza/Italian industry over the past decades is untouchable.
He is survived by his wife; Mary (Opdyke) Link; daughter; Leah (Keith) Foster of Washington Court House; son, Jason (Carrie) Link of Powell OH; grandchildren; Lynn (Josh) Foster-Dawson; Erik (Zoe Miller) Foster, Elizabeth (Ella) Link; John Jason (JJ) Link and Alyson Foster; sister-in-law, Jean Link; nephew; Jeremy (Kaetlyn) Link; niece, Jessica (Sean) Duffy, a special “sister” by choice; Marilyn Wootton, God daughter Christin Bracken and NUMEROUS exceptional life-long friends and colleagues that helped mold him into the loyal, kind, determined and God Loving man he proudly was.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his brother, James Link and his son, Eric Neil Link; his “brother” by choice; George Wootton and a lifetime of special furry family members; Pahoo, Magpie, Mandy, Molly and Largo.
In keeping with his wishes, cremation was observed, and a Celebration of Life service will be held on Saturday, June 1, 2024, at 1 p.m. at Crossroads Christian Church, in Washington Court House, OH.
Arrangements are under the direction of Kirkpatrick Funeral Home, in Washington Court House.
SEMPER FI
