John Dwane ‘Skip’ Pirkle, 75, died May 19, 2013.

He was born Oct. 20, 1937 in Monroe, Louisiana, the son of John H. and Mary Pirkle. He grew up in Oakdale and graduated from Oakdale High School in 1955 with what he termed “the best graduating class ever!”

He served in the Navy as an electronics technician and bugler on the submarine Gudgeon. He was initiated into the brotherhood of the Shellbacks, as the Gudgeon had circumnavigated the globe. He attended college in San Diego and the book ‘Blind Man’s Bluff’ details a chilling tale that took place while he was on board the submarine.

He worked as a junior technician on the Apollo Missile, at General Dynamics as a VP in systems engineering, First Security VP of data graphics and finally retired as a precious metals commodities broker.

He loved life and was a great father, loving husband and good friend. A colorful storyteller, he had a wonderful sense of humor and enjoyed his birds, truck, traveling, guns, golf, music, sports and most of all, fishing from his boat.

Survivors include his wife, Honey and their seven children, Kathy, Jerry, Bob, Brian, Jerry, Andrea, Lori; 10 grandchildren; his aunt Gerri Brian; brother William Pirkle; and many, many cousins.

A Celebration of Life will be held Friday, June 21 at 6 p.m. at Oakdale Memorial Chapel.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made In Memory of John D. Pirkle, OJUSD Scholarships, 168 S. Third Ave., Oakdale, CA 95361.

The Oakdale (Calif.) Leader

June 19, 2013