Linda Saunders Hess, 85, of Salisbury, passed away Saturday, November 8, 2025 at Novant Health Rowan Medical Center.

She was born October 19, 1940 in Marshalltown, IA to Santford and Elna Van Gilder. Linda had many jobs over the years having retired from Sears. After her husband Chuck’s retirement the two opened the Country Burger Cafe and ran the operation for over 30 years. Unknown to many she was the “Welcome Wagon” of Salisbury. She was an active member of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church. Linda was a good woman, full of love and laughter. She missed her sisters in Iowa and the cornfields. Linda was a Military wife following her husband Chuck through his twenty years of service in the Air Force. They were married in Minst, North Dakota and spent 67 years together, having two children, Mike and Mardy, then came seven grandchildren.

In addition to her parents, Linda was preceded in death by her husband, Charles Ray Hess and grandsons, Michael Hess, Jr. and Conner Ray Wilson.

Mrs. Hess is survived by her children, Mike and Mardy; grandchildren, Christian, Jaclyn and Gabriella Hess, Caleb Wilson and Carleigh Airheart; great-grandchildren, Archer Sanders and KJ Airheart; sisters, Sandra Stephenson & Judy Thorn.

A service to celebrate Linda‘s life will be held on Thursday, November 20, 2025 at 1:30 PM at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Salisbury.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Paul’s Lutheran Church Youth Groups, 205 St. Paul Church Road, Salisbury, NC 28146.

Carolina Cremation is assisting the Hess family. Online condolences may be made at www.carolinacremation.com.