Jean Elizabeth Custer Linton-Kief, 90 of Martinsburg, passed away on Sunday, July 25, 2021. Born on January 23, 1931 in Martinsburg to the late Lloyd Shepherd Custer and Margaret Elizabeth (Prather) Custer she lived the majority of her life in the Vanville Community of Martinsburg.
She is survived by her daughter, Kimberly Marie (Linton) Freeman and husband Christopher; sister, Helen Anne Luttrell; brother Lloyd Wayne Custer and wife Sherry; in addition to numerous nieces and nephews.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husbands: Noel Douglas Linton and LeRoy Kief; and her sister, Vivian Kathaleen Barrow.
Jean was an avid gardener of both vegetables and flowers. It wasn’t unusual for visitors to come away from her house with either fresh vegetables, something she canned from her garden or a cutting from a flower in her yard.
She was also a lifelong 4-H’er. She loved to tell the story of when she and her sister went to camp in the 1930’s and her father paid for camp with chickens for their dinner. She later went on to become the leader of the Vanville Busy Beavers 4-H Club where she mentored many children over the years. She was named Outstanding 4-H Leader in 1971. In her later years she sat on the Berkeley County 4-H Foundation and was made a 4-H All Star.
Jean was also active in the Gateway Republican Women’s Club and was named Outstanding Woman of the Year for them in 2009.
Jean was a member of the Vanville Church of Christ and taught Sunday School for many years. Most recently she attended the Bunker Hill Church of the Brethren.
Family will receive friends on Friday, July 30, 2021 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Rosedale Funeral Home in Martinsburg.
Services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, July 31, 2021 at Rosedale Funeral Home.
If you would like to memorialize Jean by making a charitable donation please consider donating to the Berkeley County 4-H Foundation c/o WVU Extension Office, 400 W. Stephen Street, Martinsburg, WV 25401.
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