Published: Sunday, August 8, 2010
LIfe Story: Everett resident was a family man and avid fisherman
Family, the U.S. Marine Corps and fishing.
Those top the list of loves for "Pinkie" Pilkenton of Everett.
"He always had a boat on the back of his truck," said his son, Jeffrey Pilkenton. "He went to work with his tools -- and his boat on the back."
The truck sported a bumper sticker reading "Nothing in this truck is worth your life."
Jeffrey Pilkenton said his father took his children fishing on most every river in the area. Bad weather was no problem. One time it was so cold, they put the youngest son, Michael, under the bow of the flat-bottom river boat to keep him warm.
"Dad smoked the fish and cooked it," Jeffrey Pilkenton said. "We were raised eating fish."
Franklin George "Pinkie" Pilkenton, 73, of Everett, died June 23 from complication of diabetes. He was born Dec. 22, 1937 to Frank and Myrtle Pilkenton of Everett.
He graduated from Everett High School in 1956, went into the U.S. Marine Corps and served until 1959.
Pilkenton was a brick layer for 20 years. He also worked at Scott Paper Co., as a taxidermist, for Snohomish County Corrections and for private security firms and other companies.
An avid outdoorsman, he enjoyed boating, camping and hunting. He went smelt fishing and crabbing, too. His daughter, Lori Martin, said when they learned to walk, they all got fishing poles.
Her father was a member of the Northwest Steelhead and Salmon Council, North-Shore Chapter, for 35 years and served as president for several years.
Another hobby that held his attention was NASCAR. He was a huge fan of Dale Earnhardt.
Pinkie Pilkenton loved watching westerns on television, listening to country music and going to live concerts, his daughter said.
The family spent many weekends at fishing derbies. Every year at Christmas, Pinkie Pilkenton played Santa Claus for kids around Everett.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Kathryn Pilkenton, the mother of his three sons; Patricia Pilkenton, the mother of his daughter; and brother-in-law Ronald Argle.
He is survived by his daughter, Lori, wife of William Martin; three sons, Robert, Jeffrey and Janine Pilkenton and Michael; two brothers, Bradford and Norma Pilkenton and Paul and Patty Pilkenton; three sisters, Connie, wife of Dennis Mitzel, Peggy, wife of Dennis Durr, Sharon, wife of the deceased Ronald Argle; and two grandchildren, Brandi and Christopher Martin.
The family grew up in the Riverside neighborhood of Everett. Their home was positioned where the parking lot is now for Denny's restaurant on Pacific Avenue. His brother, Bradford Pilkenton, said the kids worked at a bowling alley to earn money to buy their own clothes and they all picked blackberries.
Bradford Pilkenton didn't remember where his brother's colorful nickname came from, but said, at the time kids tended to shorten everything down.
"Everybody knew him as Pinkie," his brother said. "He wouldn't respond to Franklin."
He said his brother, the oldest of six children, loved to eat, particularly food at the fair.
"He ate everything," Bradford Pilkenton said. "Doesn't everything at the fair smell good?"
Pinkie Pilkenton prided himself on catching the first sockeye salmon each year when the season opened in Lake Washington. He used his own seasoning rub for fish he layered on shelves in his array of Little Chief Smokers.
One of his hobbies was collecting Marine Corps plates. He drank diet Pepsi or Coke and smoked big, fat cigars. He dressed in cowboy outfits with wide belt buckles and boots. Pinkie Pilkenton never missed his kid's football and basketball games.
His son, Robert Pilkenton, said his father was proud of the times he was mentioned in The Herald for his fishing prowess. Herald outdoors writer Wayne Kruse said Pinkie Pilkenton was an influential member of the local sportfishing scene when sportsmen's clubs were just finding it necessary to change from fun and games to conservation and political activism.
A "warm, truly friendly individual, Pinkie was a rare combination of both an effective activist and an easygoing recreationalist," Kruse said. "It was my honor and privilege to have known him."
On one fishing trip, Pinkie Pilkenton hit another stretch of bad weather. He tried to stave off the cold, but his beard froze white with ice.
A propane heater in the boat gave some respite, but caught his boot on fire.
A minor irritation at best.
With the flame stamped out, Pinkie Pilkenton kept right on fishing.
Kristi O'Harran: 425-339-3451, oharran@heraldnet.com.
Those top the list of loves for "Pinkie" Pilkenton of Everett.
"He always had a boat on the back of his truck," said his son, Jeffrey Pilkenton. "He went to work with his tools -- and his boat on the back."
The truck sported a bumper sticker reading "Nothing in this truck is worth your life."
Jeffrey Pilkenton said his father took his children fishing on most every river in the area. Bad weather was no problem. One time it was so cold, they put the youngest son, Michael, under the bow of the flat-bottom river boat to keep him warm.
"Dad smoked the fish and cooked it," Jeffrey Pilkenton said. "We were raised eating fish."
Franklin George "Pinkie" Pilkenton, 73, of Everett, died June 23 from complication of diabetes. He was born Dec. 22, 1937 to Frank and Myrtle Pilkenton of Everett.
He graduated from Everett High School in 1956, went into the U.S. Marine Corps and served until 1959.
Pilkenton was a brick layer for 20 years. He also worked at Scott Paper Co., as a taxidermist, for Snohomish County Corrections and for private security firms and other companies.
An avid outdoorsman, he enjoyed boating, camping and hunting. He went smelt fishing and crabbing, too. His daughter, Lori Martin, said when they learned to walk, they all got fishing poles.
Her father was a member of the Northwest Steelhead and Salmon Council, North-Shore Chapter, for 35 years and served as president for several years.
Another hobby that held his attention was NASCAR. He was a huge fan of Dale Earnhardt.
Pinkie Pilkenton loved watching westerns on television, listening to country music and going to live concerts, his daughter said.
The family spent many weekends at fishing derbies. Every year at Christmas, Pinkie Pilkenton played Santa Claus for kids around Everett.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Kathryn Pilkenton, the mother of his three sons; Patricia Pilkenton, the mother of his daughter; and brother-in-law Ronald Argle.
He is survived by his daughter, Lori, wife of William Martin; three sons, Robert, Jeffrey and Janine Pilkenton and Michael; two brothers, Bradford and Norma Pilkenton and Paul and Patty Pilkenton; three sisters, Connie, wife of Dennis Mitzel, Peggy, wife of Dennis Durr, Sharon, wife of the deceased Ronald Argle; and two grandchildren, Brandi and Christopher Martin.
The family grew up in the Riverside neighborhood of Everett. Their home was positioned where the parking lot is now for Denny's restaurant on Pacific Avenue. His brother, Bradford Pilkenton, said the kids worked at a bowling alley to earn money to buy their own clothes and they all picked blackberries.
Bradford Pilkenton didn't remember where his brother's colorful nickname came from, but said, at the time kids tended to shorten everything down.
"Everybody knew him as Pinkie," his brother said. "He wouldn't respond to Franklin."
He said his brother, the oldest of six children, loved to eat, particularly food at the fair.
"He ate everything," Bradford Pilkenton said. "Doesn't everything at the fair smell good?"
Pinkie Pilkenton prided himself on catching the first sockeye salmon each year when the season opened in Lake Washington. He used his own seasoning rub for fish he layered on shelves in his array of Little Chief Smokers.
One of his hobbies was collecting Marine Corps plates. He drank diet Pepsi or Coke and smoked big, fat cigars. He dressed in cowboy outfits with wide belt buckles and boots. Pinkie Pilkenton never missed his kid's football and basketball games.
His son, Robert Pilkenton, said his father was proud of the times he was mentioned in The Herald for his fishing prowess. Herald outdoors writer Wayne Kruse said Pinkie Pilkenton was an influential member of the local sportfishing scene when sportsmen's clubs were just finding it necessary to change from fun and games to conservation and political activism.
A "warm, truly friendly individual, Pinkie was a rare combination of both an effective activist and an easygoing recreationalist," Kruse said. "It was my honor and privilege to have known him."
On one fishing trip, Pinkie Pilkenton hit another stretch of bad weather. He tried to stave off the cold, but his beard froze white with ice.
A propane heater in the boat gave some respite, but caught his boot on fire.
A minor irritation at best.
With the flame stamped out, Pinkie Pilkenton kept right on fishing.
Kristi O'Harran: 425-339-3451, oharran@heraldnet.com.
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