WILMINGTON — Linda Ann (Powers) Routh passed away peacefully on Wednesday, October 2nd 2024 after a three-and-a-half-year battle with breast cancer. She was an amazing golfer, loving mother, cherished wife, and favorite friend to get in trouble with. To the very end Linda maintained her humor and grace, and to no one’s surprise became a favorite of all of her nurses.
Linda was born in Nagoya, Japan on September 16, 1949. The daughter of Larry, a US Air Force pilot, and Sara, a homemaker. After living overseas for a number of years in her early childhood, her family finally put down roots in Kansas City, MO. Linda attended St. Teresa’s Academy and then went on to graduate from the Research College of Nursing. She later worked her way through Bryan College of Health Sciences School of Nurse Anesthesia in Lincoln, Nebraska, and practiced as a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist until retiring in 2016.
Linda raised two children, Geoff, born on Christmas day 1974, and Ashley, born in May 1977. After living in Lincoln, Nebraska for many years, Linda eventually settled in Charlotte, NC and joined Pine Island Golf Club where she met Jim, also known as “World’s Greatest Caregiver.” He had to work hard to get a date with her, but once she gave in it only took one dinner to know they were a great match. They married in 2002 and moved to St. James Plantation in 2016. Jim and Linda were “the couple to beat” on the golf course, and she was a star in her ladies’ golf group. Despite her superior skill with a nine iron, Linda was always a patient and humble player who was happy to help others, which made her a highly sought-after partner and team mate. She made many wonderful friends in St. James, all of whom supported her, and along with Jim, took excellent care of her most notably in the years she was sick.
Linda will always be remembered for her strong opinions, sense of humor, thoughtfulness, empathy, love for kitchen gadgets, beds covered in 25 decorative pillows, and her habit of buying things just because they were on sale- because you never know when you’ll need multiple extras of holiday napkin rings, beach bags, or serving platters. She never left the house without lipstick, and when asked her opinion about whether you should wear the beautiful, yet terribly uncomfortable, shoes she’d say, “Wear the shoes, it’s better to look good than to feel good.” She loved dogs, football, brownie nut fudge ice-cream, and planting flowers in her yard every summer.
Linda is survived by her beloved husband Jim Routh, daughter Ashley Samson and her husband Tyrone, stepdaughter Lori Priest and her husband Danny, stepson JJ Routh and his wife Shannon, stepson Thad Routh and his wife Christine, 7 grandchildren (Emmett 16, Charley 15, Poppy 13, and Penelope “Nellie” 10, Morgan 22, Lucy 17, and Max 16), her younger brother Steve Powers, several nieces, and one nephew.
Linda was preceded in death by her parents, her sister Mary Jane and brothers Larry and John Powers, and her son Geoff.
A Celebration of Linda’s life will be scheduled at a later date.
