PENWOOK, Va. – On Dec. 9, 2022, Linda Brown Wells passed away due to complications from ALS. Born on Dec. 25, 1953, to Robert and Frances Brown of North Kingstown, R.I., Linda was the oldest of five siblings.

She grew up in North Kingstown, R.I. and graduated from North Kingstown High School. She worked as a teacher’s aide before marrying John P. Wells, also of North Kingstown, R.I. They had four children while living in Rhode Island, Molly, John, Kelly and Ian. Linda and John later moved to Monmouth where they raised their four children. All of her children attended Monmouth public schools. She worked for L.L. Bean for years, both in Freeport and Lewiston.

Linda loved to garden, and would often spend long hours with John planting and cultivating flowers and plants in their expansive backyard on Gilman Road. Together with John, they rehabbed the old farmhouse at 5 Gilman over 30 years, mostly by themselves. A talented artist and crafter, she always had a project percolating in her mind. She was an avid reader, and though widely read, she particularly enjoyed fantasy novels. Like all of her siblings and children, Linda loved to play games- in her case, both board games and video games. In later years, she and her children had weekly game nights through zoom, spanning multiple states and countries. She was a nightly Jeopardy viewer, and could have done well as a contestant with her broad, encyclopedic knowledge – she was everyone’s first pick for Trivial Pursuit.

Linda and John moved to Penhook, Va. in 2017, to be closer with their children. She continued her love of gardening and made the new yard her own, enjoying learning about new native plants available in the south. In late 2021, she was diagnosed with ALS. As her body deteriorated, she never lost her sense of humor or bravery in the face of this unspeakably cruel disease. Her mind, humor and will remained strong until the day she died.

Linda was known for her deep and broad knowledge, her acerbic wit, and her love for family.

She is survived by her husband of 46 years John; her loving children Molly Wells Coulter, John Wells, Kelly Wells, Ian Wells, son-in-law, Cameron Coulter, daughter-in-law, Catt Stewart; her siblings Bob Brown, Deb Harbin, Jane Tucker, Katy Gustafson; and grandchildren Sadie and Rune. She also leaves behind many nieces, nephews and relatives on both the Brown and Wells side of the family, many of whom grew up with her.

In lieu of flowers, the family has asked that a donation be made to the

ALS Association or

a local affiliate working

to fight ALS