Stella Drum Lineberger

Stella Drum Lineberger
GASTONIA -- Mrs. Lineberger, 95, of 500 Cramer Mountain Rd., died peacefully at Carillon of Cramer Mountain on Monday, December 11, 2006. She was born in Catawba County, NC on January 13, 1911 of the parents Adolphus Stamey Drum and Blanche Drum Drum, and had ten siblings.
Interment will be private at Gaston Memorial Park. A celebration of life service will be held 11:00 AM Wednesday, December 13, 2006, at McLean Funeral Directors - Gastonia. Rev. Eugene Moore and Dr. James Westmoreland will officiate. The family will receive friends from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM Tuesday, December 12, 2006, at McLean Funeral Directors - Gastonia.
Mrs. Lineberger grew up in Catawba County and finished Ball's Creek High School at the age of 15. She really enjoyed school, and played guard on her high school basketball team. She entered Appalachian Normal School in Boone (now Appalachian State University) from which she was graduated in 1928. She taught school at Sherrill's Ford (near Denver, NC) for about four years. She enjoyed playing the piano, and taught piano to several students. In August 1931, she married Luther R. Lineberger, and they moved to Cramerton where they both went to work with Cramerton Mills (subsequently purchased by Burlington Industries). Stella worked there for approximately 25 years before retiring from Burlington. She then began working full time with her husband Luther as co-owner of the then fast growing famous Lineberger's Fish Fry, which operated for 50 years before being sold in 1998. After college, son Jack, became an owner with his parents. She retired from the Fish Fry at age 87. She enjoyed her job sitting in the raised booth in the center of the restaurant (fondly called the 'Toll Booth'), from which position she could spot vacated tables, so that she could via intercom advise the hostess where to seat customers. Stella enjoyed Bethesda Methodist Church where she sang in the choir for many years. She was also active in the Cramerton Senior Citizens Club. In the 60's and through the 80's she was fortunate to have traveled to Japan, Hong Kong, Hawaii, and various European countries and throughout the U.S. She moved to Carillon of Cramer Mountain Assisted Living in February 2002 where she was very happy. She especially enjoyed sitting in the entrance lobby in 'her chair', where she could speak to so many of her 'old friends and former customers of Lineberger's Fish Fry'.
The family would like to express their sincere appreciation for the love and care given by the staff at Carillon of Cramer Mountain.
Survivors include her son and daughter-in-law, Don and Gladys C. Lineberger of Gastonia; daughter-in-law, Beverly J. Lineberger of Lake Wylie, SC; son, Dr. Luther Truett Lineberger and daughter-in-law, Sandra K. Lineberger, of Virginia Beach, VA; grandchildren, Don Lineberger, Jr. and wife, Elizabeth, of Charlotte, Stephen Lineberger and wife, Dorothy, of Charlotte, Kent Alan Lineberger and wife, Christa, of Charlotte, Susan Lineberger Driver and husband, Kris, of Gastonia, Mark J. Lineberger and wife, Rebecca, of Gastonia, Wesley R. Lineberger of Gastonia, Bobby Ruff, husband of the late Paige Lineberger Ruff, Heidi Lineberger Broughman and husband, Randall, of Waynesboro, VA, and Aaron Lineberger and wife, Fabiola C., of Virginia Beach, VA; 19 great-grandchildren and 7 great-great grandchildren; and sister, Eulalah D. Williams of Maiden. In addition to her parents and loving husband of 48 years, Luther, Mrs. Lineberger was preceded in death by her son, Jack R. Lineberger; a granddaughter, Paige Lineberger Ruff; and siblings, Azalea D. Lineberger, Elliott F. Drum, Virginia D. Rodgers, Dorothy D. McAlister, Lillian D. Jones, Jasper P. Drum, Alvin W. Drum, Lois D. Campbell, and Lola D. McAlister.
Honorary pallbearers will be the former employees of Lineberger's Fish Fry.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorials be considered to either Bethesda United Methodist Church, 3714 S. New Hope Rd., Gastonia, NC 28056 or Gaston Hospice, P.O. Box 3984, Gastonia, NC 28054. Condolences may be sent online at www.McLeanFuneral.com.
Arrangements by McLean Funeral Directors of Gastonia.