Linda Lou Tilghman

1953 - 2025

Linda Lou (Wright) Tilghman, of Fort Wayne, Indiana, died unexpectedly on Tuesday, September 30, 2025, at her home. Linda was born August 14, 1953, in Fort Wayne, Indiana, the daughter of Hollis and Fern Wright. She attended school in LaOtto and Avilla before graduating from East Noble High School in 1971. Linda briefly attended Ball State University before marrying her life-long partner, Jim Tilghman, in 1973, and settling in Kendallville, Indiana. She later earned her associate's degree in nursing at IPFW.

Linda spent her entire career in the healthcare field, from working as a nursing assistant at McCray Hospital in high school to doing skills testing for Certified Nursing Assistants (CNA) for the state of Indiana. In between, she was a Registered Nurse at McCray and Parkview Noble in CCU and surgery. She also was the first director of nursing at Kendallville Manor and with her best friend, Jane Londt, started CPR+, Inc, a company to provide CPR and first aid training for businesses and individuals in Indiana and Ohio. Her last full-time role was teaching CNA and health occupations (HOE) students for Impact Institute in Kendallville for 16 years. She was a caring and vibrant nurse and teacher who was twice honored by students in West Noble's National Honor Society as a teacher who made a positive impact. She was also often approached and thanked by former students, even years after they were in her class.

Linda was an "outdoor gal" and was an accomplished softball player, earning All-star recognition in Muncie, Indiana and playing for years in Kendallville. She was an avid reader and spent as much time as she could reading novels in the pool, both in Fort Wayne and Cape Coral, Florida.

Linda lived a life full of love, caring, and devotion with a continual helpful spirit. She was loved by family and friends and will leave a huge hole in our hearts.

Linda is survived by her husband, Jim Tilghman, of Fort Wayne, son, Shaun Tilghman, of North Manchester; step-sister, Jane Russell, of Albion and step-brother, Gail (Pam) Bainbridge, of Auburn; sister-in-law, Diana Meschberger, of Fort Wayne, and brother-in-law, Barry (Janice) Tilghman, of Auburn; Aunt, Jane Koch, of Fort Wayne; and grandpuppy, Kaiyah, at home.

Linda was preceded in death by her son, Brian Tilghman; her parents, Hollis and Fern Wright; her in-laws, Harold and Clarise Tilghman, and her cherished pets, Nahla, Gonzo and Sheigh. She was a teddy-bear lover, but became an avid dog lover through those pet relationships.

Visitation will first be on Monday October 6, 2025, at D.O. McComb & Sons Funeral Homes - Covington Knolls, 8325 Covington Rd, Fort Wayne, IN 46804, from 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm. On Tuesday October 7, 2025, additional visitation will start at 12:00 noon, followed by a time of sharing of memories to begin at 1:00 pm, at the funeral home. Burial to follow at Covington Memorial Gardens. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Noble County Community Foundation for the Linda Tilghman Healthcare Scholarship or to the Allen County Humane Society.