Edward "Lucky" Linder's Obituary
Edward “Lucky” Wade Linder
August 7th, 1945 - December 9th, 2025
Larger than life and always ready to share his heart with the words: “I love you with all my heart,” Lucky left us on December 9th, 2025, in Hendersonville, TN. Those words still echo in the ears of his children and grandchildren. Today, we honor the man whose generous heart shaped everything.
Lucky was born in Indianapolis, Indiana but grew up in Southern California before finally settling in TN in 1993. His favorite things were his family, reading & discussing the written Word of God and his business, Mid State Contractors.
Generous, hardworking, supportive, loyal, and organized, he was the kind of person who never missed a birthday and wanted to be the first one to call each of his loved ones to sing “Happy Birthday to You” on their special day. He spent a lot of time picking out the perfect Birthday card for each person and always slipped a crisp $100 bill in every card. He was generous to a fault because there were times he’d go without necessities to give to others.
Lucky never missed a chance to share a light-hearted joke or play a fun prank on friend; he had an amazing sense of humor that enabled him to take a good prank played on him and laugh it off heartily.
From childhood, Lucky loved the Dodgers, listening to golden oldies, gospel hymns and singing along with his beautiful tenor voice.
He was always plotting the next trip to which he would insist on treating his whole family. He insisted in renting a large van to squeeze the entire family into and going to dinner and to see Christmas lights every year. Lucky’s giving heart showed up most at restaurants where he’d quietly cover the bill for first responders, relatives, friends or sometimes, complete strangers. Picking up the tab was his way of giving back and blessing others since he’d felt richly blessed. These simple acts reflected the big-hearted man he was. He took everything to the next level to make it memorable. Those shared memories now form a bright album we will turn to again and again and we’ll also continue those traditions in his honor and memory.
Lucky’s missing larger-than-life spirit will leave a gaping hole in the lives of all who knew and loved him. We will always cherish his favorite words: “I love you with all my heart” because we knew he really meant it. He showed his love in so many ways, not only with those words. Until we see him again, we will honor him by loving each other just as freely and fiercely.
Lucky is joined in heaven by his beloved mother, Mary, his daughter (and partner in crime), Sheryl, his granddaughter, Bree, and his beloved best friend, Rooney the Weimaraner.
Those left behind to cherish his memory are his loving children: Jonathan, Janette (John), Katie (Bill), and Kellie (Andrew). His grandchildren, Nick, Korey, Luke, Baylee (Rico), Julianna (Steven), Hannah, and Eden. His siblings, Patricia (Lester), Linda, Stan (Margo), Brad (Christy), Terri and Dave (Evelyn) and his half-siblings, Mark and Beth. Last, but not least, his wife of 50 years, and mother of his 5 children, Janice (DeeDee) Linder. Lucky had friends and family too numerous to list but his Chattanooga Church family held a very special place in his heart, and he often expressed how much he missed them when he was no longer well enough to visit.
Arrangements entrusted to Spring Hill Funeral Home and Cemetery, 5110 Gallatin Pike, Nashville, TN 37216, 615-865-1101, https://www.springhillfh.com.
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