Clayton D. LinvilleFredonia, KS

Clayton Linville, 79, died Saturday, November 29, 2025, at his home in Fredonia, holding the hand of his wife Laura Henderson, following a brief illness. Clayton was born in Neodesha, KS 4/241946, the son of Lawrence and Myrita (Coltrain) Linville.

He attended Steele and Greenwich country schools before his father moved the family to Fredonia, where he finished his education at Fredonia schools, graduating with the class of 1964. He tried his hand at several occupations, ending up at the rock quarry breaking boulders for the Elk City Dam. When he checked with the local Draft Board and found out his number was about to come up, he drove to the Independence Recruiting Station and joined the Air Force. After basic training at Lowery AFB, and additional munitions training, he served in Itazuke AFB in Yamata, Japan and then to Vietnam, returning to Mountain Home, ID before being discharged in 1969.

He returned to Fredonia, married, and discovered of all the jobs he’d tried, he loved driving a truck the most. After a divorce freed up his time, he became a much sought-after driver as he made himself available to drive anywhere, anytime, and under any conditions. Clayton won several driver of the month and other awards while driving for Ruann, Cobalt Boats of Neodesha, and Grandview Products of Parsons, logging over 4 million miles, and making lifelong friends before two major surgeries took him off the road professionally.

He had a propensity for being unable to pass up a damsel in distress on the side of the road, be they 18 or 80, a habit Laura warned would eventually get him killed. Clayton had a lifelong love of antique cars, trucks, and anything on wheels, which started in childhood when he took apart his father’s lawn mower. This would eventually lead him to meet the love of his life.

At the Homecoming Day Car Show of 2005 Laura Henderson offered him a restaurant gift certificate at the door prize table, which he accepted on the condition she would help him use it. She agreed, but it took him 10 days to get up the nerve to call her. After that first date, they were a couple. 14 years later, they were married on the courthouse steps during the Homecoming Car Show and have been married for 6 years. An incredible romantic, Clayton sent Laura a rose every month on the anniversary of their first date for a total of 240 roses. Until recently, he had been a cancer survivor for 21 years.

Clayton was preceded in death by his parents, 3 brothers, Richard, Earl and Irvin, and one Nephew, Robert Neria. He is survived by his wife Laura Henderson and his step-daughter Erica Henderson, one sister Sharon Neria, one brother, Marvin Linville, and his wife Diann, two nieces, Alicia Roberts and Sara Linville, three nephews, Richard Neria, John and David Linville. Many great-nieces and nephews, and great-great nieces and nephews, and the grandson of his heart, Joshua Miller.

He was a lifelong member of the VFW, OOIDA, and a member of the American Legion, the NSRA, and the Tri-Valley Street Rod Association.

A Celebration of Life service will be held on Saturday, December 13, 2025, at 1:30 pm at the New Albany United Methodist Church. In Lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the New Albany United Methodist Church or the American Cancer Society-Wilson County Relay for Life and may be left with or mailed to the funeral home. Online condolences may be left at www.countrysidefh.com. Services are under the direction of Countryside Funeral Home 420 S. 20th St., P.O. Box 247, Fredonia, KS 66736