Mary Ellen Harlow Fleeman Linkenhoker, age 86, of 292 Verge Street, Clifton Forge, Virginia, went to the home of her Heavenly Father on Tuesday, January 12, 2010.

She was born on March 16, 1923 in Clifton Forge, Virginia to the late Hugh Davis "Pete" Harlow and Bessie Mae Kelly Harlow.

She will be remembered by many for her employment at Ridgeway Hardware Store, Duncan's Store on Jefferson Avenue beside the Jefferson Hotel, Mizzy, Inc., Canfield Rubber Plant in Iron Gate, the old Rayon Ribbon Plant (in her youth), and Virginia Taxi, where she and her husband G.P. were co-owners/operators with a fleet of ten vehicles and where G.P. was a cab dispatcher.

She was a lifelong member of the Clifton Forge Baptist Church, and belonged to the Ladies Bible Class and the Winsome Seekers Class.

She lived in Clifton Forge her entire life, working and raising her family. She loved her home on the hill behind Verge Street, where she could enjoy the view of the swinging bridge, the railroad, the city of Clifton Forge and her beloved mountains with their changing weather and seasons. She loved her garden and her flowers. Thanksgiving was her favorite holiday because it was a time when her family would gather at her home for a traditional dinner that included her special 7-up salad. It made her happy to be with everyone, always counting the numbers that attended, never the same number through the years.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her first husband, Walter Sydney Fleeman, a U. S. Marine, who was killed during World War II on Iwo Jima in 1945; her second husband, George Paxton "G.P." Linkenhoker in 1988; two sisters, Helen Harlow Rogers and Betty Jean Harlow Burns; and three brothers, Hubert Harlow, Warner Harlow and James O. Harlow.

She is survived by a son, Raymond Lynwood Fleeman and wife, LeAnn of Lee's Summit, MO; two daughters, Mary Bess Linkenhoker Baker and husband, Tony of Clifton Forge and Ellen Marie Linkenhoker Woodruff and husband, Greg of Clifton Forge; six grandchildren, Michelle Fleeman Jones, MD and husband, Jim Jones, MD of Hampstead, NC, Donna Fleeman Poole and husband, Tom of Miami, FL, Ashley Fleeman and wife, Janelle of Melbourne, FL, George Michael Linkenhoker (who from birth was cared for by Mrs. Linkenhoker as if he were her son) of Richmond, Gregory Woodruff of Clifton Forge and Amanda Woodruff of Beaver, PA; six great grandchildren, Michelle Poole of Miami, FL, Jackson Poole of Miami, FL, Vinny Woodruff of Clifton Forge, Abby Stewart of Beaver, PA, Christie Fleeman of Melbourne, FL and Rebecca Fleeman of Melbourne, FL; many nieces and nephews, including special nieces Bobbi Burns Reed of Richmond and Kelley Burns Shell of Roanoke and a special "son", Chappy Saunier.

She will be missed by all who knew her.

A funeral service will be held on Friday at 11:00 a.m. in the Clifton Forge Baptist Church, 511 McCormick Boulevard, with Reverend J. Glenn Linthicum and Reverend Jeff Riley officiating. Her body will be cremated following the service. The family will receive friends Friday morning from 10:00 a.m. until 11:00 Aa.m. at the church.

The Nicely Funeral Home, Clifton Forge is in charge of arrangements. The family suggests memorial tributes take the form of contributions to Hope Tree Family Services, 800 Mt. Vernon Lane, P.O. Box 849, Salem, VA 24153, the Clifton Forge Baptist Church, P.O. Box 121, Clifton Forge, VA 24422, or the Clifton Forge Rescue Squad, P.O. Box 419, Clifton Forge, VA 24422.