Wednesday, September 23, 2026 12:01 pm

Linda Sitton Washburn, "Lin," passed away peacefully in Shelby, NC on September 19th, 2026, surrounded by her family. She will be remembered for her warm kindness, quick smile and gift of engaging conversation. Lin loved recounting family memories and had an uncanny ability to remember events and dates with the precision of a historian.

Lin was born in Newport News, Virginia on March 19th, 1942, during WWII. She was raised in Asheville and Hendersonville and later attended UNC Nursing School where she met Walter Lineberger. Lin was a labor and delivery nurse for years and later was a teaching nurse in the same specialty.

Lin and Walter married in 1966, and they raised their two sons, Sullivan and Pace in Belmont, NC. Family life was filled with countless UNC football and basketball games, summers in the mountains and later deep-sea fishing adventures. When Walter unexpectedly passed away in 1989, Lin faced a tremendous loss but bravely continued to build a life filled with love, purpose, family and strong faith.

Lin was blessed to have a second chance at love, meeting D.P. Washburn through their church in Belmont. They married in 1992 and have enjoyed 34 happy years of marriage living in Polkville, NC. Lin and D.P loved to travel and were able to visit 49 states together hitting all the National Parks and visiting many love ones along the way.

Lin was generous with her time and talents and devoted herself to causes and organizations that were meaningful to her. Lin served for many years as the President of the NC Dance Theater and served on the UNC Board of Visitors and the UNC Hospital Board.

A woman of strong faith, Lin was an active member of the Lutheran Church of the Holy Comforter in Belmont and of Ascension Lutheran Church in Shelby where she formed deep friendships and became an important part of two loving and vibrant church communities.

Lin's greatest love was her family and is survived by her husband D.P. Washburn, her brother Larry Sitton (Carroll), her two sons Sullivan (Sally) and Pace (Suzanne) Lineberger, stepdaughters Lisa Cadmus (Scott) and Lori Inderkummen (Jean-Pierre) and eight grandchildren and two great-grandsons.

The family would like to thank Elizabeth Fuller for her 30 years of dear friendship and loving care. We also want to thank the staff at White Oak Manor and VIA Health Partners Hospice of Shelby for their attentive and loving care of Lin in her final days.

A funeral service will be held at Ascension Lutheran Church of Shelby (300 N Lafayette St, Shelby, NC 28152) at 11 am on Friday, September 25th, 2026. The family will receive friends following the service in the church fellowship hall.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Ascension Lutheran Church of Shelby. https://www.ascensionlutheranshelby.com/ways-to-give.html