Linda Lee (Fairbanks) Barbus died Tuesday, November 7, 2023 in Raeford at the age of 74.
She was born February 19, 1949 in Brush Valley Township, Indiana County, Pennsylvania to the late Orville Ray Fairbanks and Gertrude (Uncapher) Fairbanks.
A graduate of United High School, she served one-year active duty in the U.S. Air Force prior to serving another 23 years in the Air Force Reserves. Through both active duty and the reserves, she worked as an air traffic controller, as a certified nurse's assistant, a flight line worker and a civil service professional. Most of her time was spent at Kelly Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas.
She enjoyed playing the card games, spades, solitaire and skippo. She also liked gardening and reading and she fondly remembered her many adventures traveling internationally and throughout the U.S. while in the Air Force.
She was a member of the First United Methodist Church, Laredo, Texas where she was a member of the Methodist Women's Group and the Crochet Club. Linda also attended services at the Raeford First United Methodist Church, Raeford.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by sisters: Elma Bash, Betty Fairbanks, Bonnie Yatsko and three other siblings who died in infancy.
She is survived by her three children: Faith A. Gonzalez (Juan), Laredo, Texas; Heather Field (Ronnie), San Antonio, Texas; and Leonard E. Barbus Jr., Raeford. She is also survived by 11 grandchildren, three great-grandchildren and the following siblings: Judy Henderson, Altoona, PA; Donald Fairbanks, Commodore, Pennsylvania; Peg Durst, Penn Run, Pennsylvania; Richard Fairbanks (Carol), Illinois; Karen Fairbanks and Michael Fairbanks, Indiana, Pennsylvania. Other surviving family members include three sisters-in-law, one brother-in-law and numerous nieces and nephews.
Friends will be received from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Tuesday, November 14. A funeral will be held at the Rairigh-Bence Funeral Home & Crematory, 655 Franklin St., Clymer, Pennsylvania with Rev. Bob White officiating. Interment with military honors will follow at the Spruce Grove Cemetery, Penn Run, Pennsylvania. Online condolences may be offered at: www.rbfh.net.