Robert Linn

Robert Kenneth Linn passed away on December 12th, 2011 surrounded by his family and friends. Robert (Bob) was born in Sioux City, Iowa to Kenneth and Gladys Linn. He had three sisters — June, Joyce, and Marilyn. The family moved to Southern California when Robert was 10 years old. Robert joined the Marine Corps at age 17 in 1946 and he served as a radio operator in the Marine Wing Service Squadron One. Robert later attended the University of California at Los Angeles and obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Geology in 1955. Robert and Theresa met in Southern California and they were married on January 10th, 1949 in Glendale. Robert spent his career as a highly respected Geologist and Geologic Engineer, developing and operating mines in California and consulting on mining operations throughout the world. Robert started his career as geologist at the New Idria Quicksilver Mine in California, south of Santa Clara, California. New Idria is now California State Historic Landmark #324. Other mining operations where Robert worked as a Geologist included the Buena Vista Quicksilver mine West of Paso Robles, California, the New Almaden Quicksilver Mine near Santa Clara, California, and the Strawberry tungsten mine in the Sierra Nevada mountains South of Yosemite National Park. Robert oversaw and managed the Strawberry tungsten mine as President of Teledyne Tungsten, a subsidiary of the Teledyne Corporation. Robert and Theresa moved from Fresno, California to Corvallis in 1989 and he retired after finishing out his career at Teledyne Wah Chang (now Allegheny Technologies Wah Chang), in Albany. Robert’s lifelong love of geology, history, ancient civilizations, art, and culture led him and Theresa to enjoy many years of traveling widely throughout the world together. In his spare time, one would invariably find Robert either fishing or tinkering and inventing in his workshop,applying his knowledge of science and engineering to creating and meticulously building many different and fascinating types of motors, gadgets, and even a fully-working steam engine or two. Robert is survived by his loving and devoted wife Theresa, daughter Gerrie, sons John and Lawrence, and his sister June. He is also survived by his three granddaughters Jennifer, Ingrid, and Megan. Robert will be greatly missed by his family and friends. A memorial with full military honors and accompanied by a color guard will be held at Willamette National Cemetery in Portland at 1 pm on December 29th.

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Robert Linn

August 6, 1929 - December 12, 2011