Linda Sue Jones, age 75, of Shelby, went home to be with her Lord and Savior on Sunday night, September 28, 2025. Linda passed at the Embassy of Willard.
Linda was born May 10, 1950 in Shelby, she was the daughter of the late Henry M. and Betty Elaine (Cheesman) Barnhart. A 1968 graduate of Shelby High School, she continued her education at Tiffin University where she graduated magna cum laude in 1973 with a bachelor’s degree in accounting. Linda had been employed at Lumbermens Mutual in Mansfield prior to taking a job with MTD- Shelby Operations in 1985. She served as a payroll administrator for 29 years before retiring in 2014.
Throughout her life, Linda was an active member of Trinity United Methodist Church in Shelby. She contributed actively to Trinity’s youth ministry program and found the experience highly rewarding. Linda also was a lay speaker at many United Methodist Women’s events, meticulously pairing her music selections with her spoken message. Her love for God and her church family was great.
For hobbies, she enjoyed watching classic television shows along with playing cards and games on her tablet to keep her mind active. Her efforts certainly paid off as Linda’s mind was sharp to the very end. She also looked forward to planning and going on annual trips each October to various locations with family.
No matter where Linda was, she touched people’s hearts. She will be missed by her family; her cousins: Pam (Randy) Waddles and their daughter, Sarah Waddles, and granddaughter, Lillian Rivera, and cousin, Susan (Tod) Terveen, and their daughter, Brielle; her niece: Shannon (Brian) Fisher of Fredericktown; her nephew: Shane (Mara) Barnhart of Cardington and their children, Ava and Easton Barnhart; and numerous extended family, friends, and church family. In addition to her parents, Linda was preceded in death by her sister: Carol Jean Barnhart; and brother and sister-in-law: Donald and Gay Barnhart.
Family and friends are welcome on Thursday, October 2, 2025 from 10-11 am at the Penwell Funeral Home, 168 West Main Street, Shelby, where funeral services will immediately follow at 11 am. Dave Melick will officiate the services with burial following in Oakland Cemetery, Shelby. Memorial contributions may be made to Trinity Shining Lights Preschool.
Condolences may be left on Linda’s obituary on the funeral home’s website (PenwellFuneralHome.com) or their Facebook page (Facebook.com/PenwellFuneralHome).