Linda Ward Brucato

Linda Gail (Ward) Brucato passed peacefully at home on Wednesday, May 31, 2023. Linda was born in Hinton, West Virginia on May 5, 1956 to the late Roy and Frances (Meador) Ward of Hinton, WV and Okeechobee, FL. She has been married to her husband Anthony "Tony" Brucato for nearly 49 loving years and resided for the last 20 years in North Carolina.

Linda is survived by her husband Tony, daughter Kim Hudson (Scott Plantan), granddaughters Camille Hudson, Delaney Hudson, (Sloan Plantan), as well as her sweet baby dog, Maggie Mae. Linda loved her Ward, Meador, and Brucato families dearly and is survived by her sister Karen Jones (Lew Jones), brother Roy Ward (Denine Ward), brothers-in-law Michael Brucato (Noel), Steven Brucato, Thomas Brucato, and sister-in-law Connie Guarnieri (Wade Tharpe). Linda is also survived by extended family including Mogene Dobbins, Greg Bragg (Robin Bragg), Doris Naik, Lisa Richmond (Shane Wyatt), Mary Ann Smith (Billy Smith), Ruth White, Sandy Best, Sharon Snel, and Edward Meador. Linda loved her many nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles and cousins, who reside in Florida, West Virginia, and across the country.

Linda learned the value of hard-work from her parents, Roy and Frances Ward. Linda Gail, as her parents called her, excelled in everything she did, was a leader, and a powerful force for good. Linda twirled fire batons in high school as the head majorette at John I. Leonard High School and met Tony at Kentucky Fried Chicken, where they both worked. She asked him “so, when are you going to take me out” and they fell in love on their first date. Tony made her laugh and laugh, and she was hooked. Linda and Tony married days after graduating from high school in 1974, bought their first house and truly lived “happily ever after” raising their daughter, being best friends, and forging their careers.

Linda began her banking career with just a high school diploma and worked her way up to Senior Vice President of the largest bank in Florida, which she helped to build from the ground up. She had an astounding career in the banking industry before transitioning to the marketing world. Linda had many wonderful friends through the years and was a lasting influence on many people in both her personal and professional lives. She always had a heart for helping and empowering others to be their best selves.

In 2003, Linda and Tony moved from Jupiter, Florida to New Hill, North Carolina to be closer to their daughter, Kim. Linda and Tony worked together to continue building the legacy business that Tony had built for many years in the outboard boating industry. Linda and Tony loved working side by side to achieve their dreams and build a beautiful life together. They loved boating, traveling in their RV, spending time with family, and having new adventures together. Linda always had a puppy by her side and a smile on her face. Linda leaves a legacy of love, hard work, honesty, and laughter. She lived a good life and was a warrior through the medical issues that she experienced. Linda passed with Christ in her heart and met Jesus at the age of 67. It feels far too young for those she leaves behind, but we know that God has other plans for her.

Linda’s legacy will forever live on as wife, mom, nana, sister, sister-in-law, friend, and child of God.

A memorial service in honor of Linda will be held for family and friends on Sunday, July 16th at 3pm at Grace Church at 3725 Kildaire Farm Road, Cary, NC. Please wear green to celebrate Linda’s life. Appetizers and refreshments will be served after the service at our home, location to be shared at the memorial service.

Below under DONATIONS, there are two hyperlinks - the RSVP hyperlink to let the family know if you are able to attend the service in Cary and the hyperlink for memorial contributions in Linda's name to the Alzheimer’s Association, which the family would prefer in lieu of flowers.

A memorial service will be planned in West Virginia (Fall 2023) for family and friends as well.

If you would like to leave a favorite memory/story of Linda or a message of condolence to Tony and their family, you may do so below within "add a memory".