Melba Linker, age 78, of Atkins, died Friday, April 17, 2020, at St. Vincent Infirmary in Little Rock.  She was born January 26, 1942, in Denton, Texas, to Ben and Melba Mitchell Thompson.  She was a member of the Women's International Bowling Congress and retired as a cashier from K-Mart and Kroger stores. In addition to her parents, she is preceded in death by her step-mother, Lena Thompson; three brothers, Donald, Jimmy and Teddy Thompson.

Survivors include her husband, Charles Pate Linker; two sons and daughters-in-law, Charles "Chuck" and Cindy Linker of Alma and Edward and Terri Linker of Van Buren; two daughters and sons-in-law, Pam and Monty Ball of Branch and Regina and Richard Nichols of Greenwood; a brother and sister-in-law, Kenneth and Connie Thompson of Arizona; and several grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

A joint celebration of life will be held for Charles and Melba at 10:00 a.m., Saturday, August 20, 2022, at the Shinn Chapel with Brother Joey Hanna officiating.  A private burial for the family will be held in Ford Cemetery near Atkins and under the direction of Shinn Funeral Service of Russellville.

The family will receive friends immediately following the service in the chapel.

Memorials may be made for Charles to the Local District 5 A.A. foundation, in care of: Mike Wolf, 308 N. Boston Place, Russellville, Arkansas 72801 and for Melba to Alzheimer's Arkansas, 201 Markham Center Drive, Little Rock, Arkansas 72205.

The family would like to thank all of Charles and Melba's wonderful friends and neighbors that helped care for them, they were a blessing.

Charles and Melba's obituaries can be found be visiting the online guestbook and condolences available at www.shinnfuneral.com.