Linton Wright, Jr., born September 16, 1947, passed away on Friday, May 16, 2025, at Elkins Rehabilitation and Care Center, Elkins, West Virginia. He was 77 years old.
Linton was preceded in death by his father, Linton Wright, Sr.; his mother, Annie Lois (Worthen) Wright; his grandmother, Vertie Kitchens; a sister, Betty Gail Booker; and a brother, Willie Carl “PeeWee” Wright.
His children survive him, Tynisha L. Meade (Joey) of Elkins, WV; Shane Meade of Sylva, NC; and Ta-Yare A. Meade of Moorefield, WV; a daughter-in-law, Cristy Varner-Meade of Lakeland, FL; 3 granddaughters, Kyrianna Hesse (Tyler) of Fairmont, WV; J’aireka Heller (Zach) and Kareagunn Maxwell (Parker) of Elkins, WV; his only grandson, Ziggi Cree Feaster of Moorefield, WV; his great-granddaughters, Rae’ghan Mearns, Raimee Trimm, and Harlen Hess; a brother, Alfred Wright of Statesboro, GA; a sister, Evelyn Walden-Perry of Orangeburg, SC; a sister-in-law, Mary Wright of Metter, GA; nieces, Alison Booker and Tammy Furman of Metter, GA; and nephews, Derek, Rodney, Craig (Sherie) Booker, all of Metter, GA.
Linton was born in Metter, GA, at home, in the small, red wooden house by the railroad tracks, which his mother owned. He was delivered into this world by the hands of his grandmother, Vertie Kitchens.
He attended Lillian Street School, which spanned from grade school to high school, and graduated in 1965. In May 1970, Linton graduated from Fort Valley State College, a historically black college (HBCU) now known as Fort Valley State University, with a Bachelor of Science degree in Agriculture and Agronomy. He served as the college’s farm supervisor and proudly held a front-line position as a member of the Phi Beta Sigma fraternity. Linton was known as “Soul Man Linnie” by his fraternity brothers and classmates. His classmate James Ford remembers Linton as “dynamite,” a nickname that aptly described him as an energized and honorable man who kept people active and involved in college life and activities. Linton always had a joke to tell and was the life of the party, James recalls.
After graduating from Fort Valley State College, Linton furthered his education at Tuskegee University, where he earned a master’s degree in Agronomy. While a graduate student at Tuskegee, he served as a student trainee with the United States Department of Agriculture’s Soil Conservation Service. Upon his graduation, Linton was hired by the USDA as a soil scientist for the Soil Conservation Service.
In 1974, Linton was selected as the West Virginia representative for the first-ever global urban soil survey to be conducted. The survey was completed in Washington, D.C. He was one of the eight-member team. The team’s supervisor was Horace Smith. Their two-year soil survey results were published in 1976 and can still be accessed by those interested in the information. Linton’s role in this significant survey left a lasting impact on the field of soil science.
Linton transferred to the USDA Forest Service Headquarters – Monongahela National Forest, Elkins, WV, in 1978. As a soil scientist, he completed soil surveying, mapping, and reporting for the entire Monongahela National Forest. His work was tedious, but it was his passion. Linton’s love for the forest was palpable in his work, and his coworkers often referred to him as “Dr. Dirt.” In his 30-plus years with the USDA Forest Service, Linton could only recall two instances where he was threatened with a shotgun, and we mustn’t forget when the gas station owner refused to sell him gas because he was a federal employee. These were just some of the memories of his time with the Forest Service that Linton routinely shared with his family. His fondest memory, perhaps the most memorable and funniest, was the interaction he and his supervisor, Dick Trochlil, had with the “Rainbow People” at their gatherings in Pocahontas County. Linton named the Seneca Shadows Campground, which overlooks Seneca Rocks. The Forest Service sponsored an employee contest to name the new area, and Linton was the winner.
After 11 years of togetherness, Linton made an honest woman of Lucinda Sue Hise (Wright). They were married on May 6, 1989. In the weeks leading up to his passing, their children and grandchildren witnessed them reunited in their love and care for one another.
Linton was baptized in November 1989 after a period of dedicated Bible study as one of Jehovah’s Witnesses. He understood the Bible’s teachings and principles. He was dedicated to spreading the message of the Bible and helping others to grasp its teachings and truth. Linton was a devoted member of the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Elkins, WV, and served as an elder in his congregation. He lived his life according to his faith, always holding strong hope for a resurrection and a future in God’s paradise.
The family would like to encourage people to consider planting a memorial tree in Linton’s honor when offering condolences. To do so, please visit the Randolph Funeral Home website and select the “Plant a Tree in Memory of Linton” option. You are doing more than simply putting a plant in the ground. You are making a long-term commitment to the environment, just as Linton did, and helping to root his memories in our planet for countless years to come. There is no better tribute to a man who loved the forest as Linton did.
Linton’s wish was to be cremated, and his ashes distributed to his children and surviving loved ones. A Memorial Service will be conducted Wednesday, June 18, 2025, at 2:00 PM at the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses, 124 Roby Road, Elkins, WV, 26241 Elder Michael Marrs will officiate. The Randolph Funeral Home has been entrusted with the arrangements for Linton Wright Jr. Send online condolences to the family at www.therandolphfuneralhome.com
