Charles R. Linville ’42

Charles R. Linville ’42 died April 15 at Salemtowne Moravian Retirement Community in Winston-Salem, N.C. He was born in Winston-Salem on June 9, 1921, to the late Marguerite Ellison and Emory Roscoe Linville. A lifelong resident of Winston-Salem, he was a well-known community leader for many years. His wife of forty-three years, Margaret Hine Linville, preceded him in death in 1991. They were 1938 graduates of R.J. Reynolds High School He attended Davidson and Guilford Colleges and then worked for Security Life and Trust Corp. In 1942, he left to serve in the Armed Forces during World War II, where he was stationed in England and Germany as a radar specialist with the Signal Corps. He returned in 1946, married Margaret and moved to Chapel Hill to continue his education. He graduated from the University of North Carolina with a bachelor’s degree in business administration and was a member of Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity. In 1949, he began work for his father-in-law, Ira W. Hine, at Hine-Bagby Co., became president in 1955, and served as manager of the Thruway store which opened in 1958, having gained ownership by the time of its closing in 1992. Among the many community boards on which Charlie served were the American Red Cross, the American Heart Association of Forsyth County, and the Red Shield Boys’ Club. He was also the president of the Winston-Salem Host Lion’s Club, where he worked tirelessly for the visually impaired and received the Melvin Jones and Jack Stickly Fellowship Awards. He also was president of the Winston-Salem Chamber of Commerce, Jaycees, Thruway Merchants Association, Winston-Salem Retail Merchants, Carolinas Association of Retail Clothiers, and a longtime member of Forsyth Country Club. He served on the Board of Directors of the Bank of North Carolina (now Bank of America), as well as Triad Life Insurance. As a member of the UNC Morehead Scholarship Committee and presiding as Forsyth County chairman for ten years, he enjoyed entertaining the nominees in his home and helping young people with their career plans. Charlie grew up in Centenary United Methodist Church and then joined Knollwood Baptist Church with his wife in 1960, where he served as deacon as well as many other positions. He especially enjoyed the Roddick Sunday School Class and hosted the yearly picnic at his home for years. Mr. Linville was preceded in death by an infant brother, William Robert Linville. He is survived by his son, Richard Linville (Kathy), 628 Yorkshire Rd., Winston-Salem, N.C.27106-5542, and their children, Mary Kathryn Linville Vernon (Jeff) and Matt Linville; daughter, Kathy Robinson (Neal) and sons, Will and Nelson Robinson; and a sister, Ann Linville Burns (Kent).