Jan Roland Samuel Linden

Jan Roland “Samuel” Linden, 97, of Whiteville, NC (formerly of Locust Valley, NY) peacefully left his earthly home and stepped through Heaven’s glorious gates into his eternal home prepared just for him. (John 14:1-3) He passed early on April 18, 2022 of natural causes. He was the eldest child born to Anna Anderson Linden and George Wilhelm Linden in Nassjo, Sweden on January 7, 1925.

He immigrated to the U.S. at age one. After graduating from Glen Cove High School in 1943, he was honored to serve as a medic in the U.S. Army attached to the 124th Infantry Regiment, part of the 31st “Dixie” Division during WWII. He was awarded with the Bronze Star for his heroism saving his comrades under enemy fire in Mindanao, Philippines in 1945. He was born with a death sentence of spina bifida and contracted malaria during the war. God healed him of both. In 1950, he married Mildred “Millie” Louise Clingan of Scotch-Irish descent and they were blessed with four children. They were founding members of Community Gospel Church in Glen Cove where they faithfully worshiped with their family.

Samuel worked as a skilled mason, postman, milkman at Armstrong Dairy, estate caretaker at Peacock Point in Lattingtown, and campus caretaker at SUNY-Hicksville, NY. He was fluent in Swedish and English. Upon retiring to Whiteville in 1999, he was an active parishioner at Highest Praise Church in Whiteville and Chadbourn Pentecostal Holiness Church in Chadbourn. Samuel will lovingly be remembered for his affability and easy-going nature, his corny jokes, his love of country and pride in being a WWII veteran, his love of his Swedish heritage, and his devotion to Christ and the Church and spreading the Word of God.

He was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Millie and his siblings Svea, George, Walter, and Paul.

He is survived by his youngest brother, Arnold (Solveig), children: Jayne Gore (Clif), Patricia McMinn (Joel), Scott Linden (Bernadette), David Linden (Charlene), 9 grandchildren, and 6 great-grandchildren.

A celebration of his life will be held on Saturday, May 7, 2022 at 2:30pm, with a visitation prior to the service starting at 1:30pm at Chadbourn Pentecostal Holiness Church in Chadbourn, NC. Pastor Donald Conway and Pastor Alfonso Dorman will be officiating. Samuel will be laid to rest at the Whiteville Memorial Cemetery with Military Honors.

In lieu of flowers, a donation in Samuel’s honor would be appreciated towards the new playground at Chadbourn Pentecostal Holiness Church, P.O. Box 461, Whiteville NC 28472

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