First draft of Link's OBITUARY Link Lamkins, 56, a retired locksmith, died Friday at his home in Malvern from complications of multiple myeloma. Born February 12, 1945, in Memphis, Tenn., and raised in Malvern, he was a Navy veteran who had fought in the Vietnam war. After military service, he worked in California and in Arkansas. He had worked as a nightclub manager, a karate instructor, a hunting guide and a carpenter before learning the locksmithing trade in California in the late 1980s. In 1992 he moved to Malvern and opened his own locksmith shop, Wheeling Lockworks, later renamed Lamkins Lockworks. He operated a locksmith shop in North Malvern and out of his locksmithing van until he retired from the business in 1999 after falling ill with multiple myeloma, also known as bone marrow cancer. Lamkins had been active as a part-time patrol officer since the early 1990s and prided himself on his dedication to police work. But it was his locksmithing that gained him the most goodwill among Malvern residents, who knew him as a skilled craftsman who could open any lock at any time of the day or night. His van was a familiar sight at Malvern-area football games and at other public events, during which he helped residents get into their locked cars. "There is not a car in the world I can't get into," Lamkins declared in a 1992 interview with the Malvern Daily Record. In 1996, he was named the National Locksmith of the Year by a national locksmithing organization. He is survived by his wife, Tracy Lynn Lamkins, of the home; his father and step-mother, H.K. and Melba Lamkins of El Dorado; five brothers, W.C. "Jake" Lamkins of West Fork, Richard Lamkins of Hot Springs, Steven Lamkins of Houston, Texas, and David R. Davies of Hattiesburg, Miss.; a cousin, Burl Lamkins of Malvern; and many nieces and nephews. Viewing will be from 6-8 p.m. today (Tuesday) at Atkinson Funeral Home. Funeral is at 2 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home, and a "Celebration of Life" gathering of Lamkins' family and friends will be held at American Legion Hall at 4 p.m. Wednesday. Lamkins was treated for his illness at the Veterans Administration hospital in Little Rock. He also underwent treatment at the VA hospital in San Antonio, Texas, and was under the care of the Hospice of Hot Springs in the last few weeks. "We want to thank all of his caregivers for their dedication and care for Link," said Lamkins' wife, Tracy. David Davies (9-3-01) Final version: Link Lamkins, 56, a retired locksmith, died Friday at his home in Malvern from complications of multiple myeloma. Born February 12, 1945, in Memphis, Tenn., and raised in Malvern, he was a Navy veteran who had fought in the Vietnam war. After military service, he worked in California and in Arkansas. He had worked as a nightclub manager, a karate instructor, a hunting guide and a carpenter before learning the locksmithing trade in California in the late 1980s. In 1992 he moved to Malvern and opened his own locksmith shop, Wheeling Lockworks, later renamed Lamkins Lockworks. He operated a locksmith shop in North Malvern and out of his locksmithing van until he retired from the business in 1999 after falling ill with multiple myeloma, also known as bone marrow cancer. Lamkins had been active as a part-time patrol officer since the early 1990s and prided himself on his dedication to police work. But it was his locksmithing that gained him the most goodwill among Malvern residents, who knew him as a skilled craftsman who could open any lock at any time of the day or night. His van was a familiar sight at Malvern-area football games and at other public events, during which he helped residents get into their locked cars. "There is not a car in the world I can't get into," Lamkins declared in a 1992 interview with the Malvern Daily Record. In 1996, he was named the National Locksmith of the Year by a national locksmithing organization. He is survived by his wife, Tracy Lynn Lamkins, of the home; his father and step-mother, H.K. and Melba Lamkins of El Dorado; five brothers, W.C. "Jake" Lamkins of West Fork, Richard Lamkins of Hot Springs, Steven Lamkins of Houston, Texas, and David R. Davies of Hattiesburg, Miss.; a cousin, Burl Lamkins of Malvern; and many nieces and nephews. Viewing will be from 6-8 p.m. today (Tuesday) at Atkinson Funeral Home. Funeral is at 2 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home, and a "Celebration of Life" gathering of Lamkins' family and friends will be held at American Legion Hall at 4 p.m. Wednesday. Lamkins was treated for his illness at the Veterans Administration hospital in Little Rock. He also underwent treatment at the VA hospital in San Antonio, Texas, and was under the care of the Hospice of Hot Springs in the last few weeks. "We want to thank all of his caregivers for their dedication and care for Link," said Lamkins' wife, Tracy. by David Davies (9-03-01) Appeared in Malvern Daily Record 9-4-01 MALVERN DAILY RECORD WEBSITE Link Lamkins, 56, a retired locksmith, died Friday, Aug. 31, 2001, at his home in Malvern from complications of multiple myeloma. Funeral is at 2 p.m. Wednesday at Atkinson Funeral Home, and a "Celebration of Life" gathering of Lamkins' family and friends will be held at American Legion Hall at 4 p.m. Wednesday. For more information, please see the Tuesday edition of the Malvern Daily Record or contact the funeral home at 501-332-2711. (9-4-01) Abbreviated versions appeared in the newspapers of El Dorado, Fayetteville and Little Rock.