Linton Lee Wollen

Linton Wollen was born in Horton, KS to Lloyd and Ethel Wollen. He received his bachelor's degree from Fresno State and served in the Army for two years. He married Kathleen and together raised two daughters in Merced, CA. Linton taught electronics for 34 years at Merced High and continued part-time at Merced Junior College for 20 more years.

Linton had a passion for flying he loved to share with others and made five trips across the country with his wife. In 2022, he was recognized by the FAA with the Wright Brothers Master Pilot award. As part of the Merced Experimental Aircraft Association Young Eagles program he has taken more than 280 Merced area youth for their first flight. For 39 years, when the Merced Pilot’s Association hosted the Merced West Coast Antique Fly-in, he volunteered and served as the event director five times.

Linton also enjoyed restoring a 1929 Ford Tudor sedan and a 1929 closed cab pick-up he would drive in parades with the Gateway A’s Chapter of the Model A Ford Club of America and served as President of the club many times. He loved to build model planes and boats and was known for his very unusual collections.

Linton was always willing to lend a helping hand, especially if it included teaching something along the way. If you flew with him, the flight included a lesson and taking the controls if you were in the co-pilot’s seat. He was patient and kind and loved learning. Linton and Kathleen enjoyed 59 beautiful years together.

He is survived by his wife Kathleen; two daughters, Denise (Scott) Skidmore of Atwater, CA and Debbie (Michael) Gwynn of Newport, OR; three grandchildren Amanda Skidmore (Livermore, CA), Andrew Skidmore (Visalia, CA) and Britnie Gwynn (Portland, OR). He was preceded in death by his parents Lloyd and Ethel Wollen and his sisters Esther Barnes and Nancy Tinker.

A celebration of life will be held Monday, January 20, 2025 at 10 am at the Stratford Evans Funeral Home in Merced with a reception to follow.