Linda Jo King Gilliland, 78, of Hixson, beloved wife, mother and grandmother, died Monday, Jan. 31, 2022, at Soddy-Daisy Healthcare Center after an extended illness. Her loving husband of 56 years and the center of her world, L.W. (Bub) Gilliland Jr., was with her as she took her last breath.
Linda was born July 9, 1943, in Chattanooga and was raised in Red Bank. She was a graduate of Red Bank High School and attended Middle Tennessee State College and the University of Chattanooga. She retired from BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee with 25 years of service. She had been a member of Red Bank United Methodist Church since birth.
Linda loved her family, which included three children and five grandchildren, her dogs, walks through the neighborhood, stopping to talk with the neighbors, the Braves, Vols football and every other SEC football team except when they were playing the Vols. She told stories like People magazine. She always included age, biographical information and anything else that might add color to a story. And when her children became adults and life took them to the other states, she strived to stay closely connected to them, whether they were two, six or eight hours away.
Linda was preceded in death by her parents, Ernest Alexander King and Virginia Beatrice Phillips King; her beloved aunt, Eva Rae Phillips; her brother, W. Dan King; and her two Yorkies, Rascal and Buddy.
In addition to her husband, she is survived by her children, Llewellyn (Lew) Winfield Gilliland III, of Chattanooga, Wendy G. Novak (Steve), of Eldersburg, Maryland, and Timothy (Tim) Fielding Gilliland (Lauren), of Dayton, Ohio; grandchildren Madeline Serio, Nathan Serio and Olivia Novak, of Maryland, and Ava Gilliland and Charlie Gilliland of Ohio; two sisters-in-law, Patricia G. Smith, of Chattanooga, and Susan G. Goyer, of Brentwood, Tennessee; and several nieces and nephews.
Arrangements are by Chattanooga Funeral Home North Chapel, Highway 153. A funeral service will be held for family members only due to COVID-19, with the Rev. Ken Sauer officiating. A celebration of life will be held at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, please make donations in Linda’s name to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, the Hamilton County Humane Society or Red Bank United Methodist Church, 3800 Dayton Blvd., Chattanooga, TN, 37415.
