Linda York Harton

Linda Lou York Harton, a longtime resident of Asheboro, died Friday evening the 29th of December at The Laurels of Pittsboro, NC.

Linda was born in 1936 in Staley, NC to the late Toy Leonard York and Elizabeth Holt York.  Linda received an Associate of Arts degree from Campbell College in 1955 and continued her education at East Carolina College, from which she received her B.S. in Education in 1957. She married her college sweetheart, Herbert Clarence Harton, in December 1956.

Linda was an elementary school teacher in the late 1950s and early 1960s and later decided to devote her time to being a full time mother and homemaker while her children were young. She was very active in activities involving her children, such as Scout leader, Sunday School teacher, and PTA volunteer. The family loved camping and travel adventures, and she coordinated the trips.

In the mid 1970s, she and Herb decided to share their love of camping and they developed and ran Zooland Family Campground in Asheboro. During this time, she trained to be a docent at the North Carolina Zoo and drove buses of campers to give personalized tours of the park. She loved to play the piano, and provided music for worshipers at the campground Sunday church service.

During the mid 1980s when Herb became ill, she obtained her insurance license and ran his Allstate Insurance agency in Asheboro while he recovered. After he returned to work full time, she continued to work with him in the office until his retirement in the late 1990s. Once he retired, they enjoyed many trips together.

Linda was passionate about her family, friends, and church family. She was a long time member of Cross Road Baptist Church in Asheboro. She will be remembered for her kindness and generosity and funded a scholarship at Campbell University after the death of her husband Herb in 2008.

She is survived by three children: Karen Vaca and husband Tony of Pittsboro, NC; Lynn Harton and wife Flavia of Greenville, SC; Helen Harton and husband Dan Putnam of Cedar Falls, Iowa; five grandchildren: Grant Allen and wife Catherine of Staley, Darren Allen of Asheboro, Craig Allen of Hoboken, NJ, Sara Yazbeck and husband George of Charlotte, and Leigh Harton of New York City; one great grandchild, Nora Yazbeck; and one sister, Edris Yates of Clermont, Fl.

A graveside ceremony will be held at Randolph Memorial Park at 1:00 pm Wednesday, January 3, 2018 with Rev. Johnny Henderson and Rev. Don McIntyre officiating.