Linda Lee London

Linda Lee (Finley) London, 80, passed Tuesday, March 23, 2021 at her daughter’s home in Ashland. She was born September 7, 1940 in Ord, NE to Maynard and Thelma Finley. She grew up in the Scotia, Loop Valley, area and worked on the farm next to her father from the time she was little until they moved to Lincoln in 1954 at the age of 14. She had a strong work ethic at a young age and could do anything a hired hand could do. Linda graduated from Lincoln Northeast High School in 1956, at the age of 16, with an offer for a full ride sports scholarship to UNL. She was very athletic and involved in all sports, excelling at swimming and softball, was a member of the Penguins, and won many awards in both arenas. She loved horseback riding and was a member of a riding club. She was an outdoors woman and after she was married became involved in archery and shooting where she also won many awards. She was a deer bowhunter and enjoyed fishing. Linda loved all animals and always had a menagerie at home.

Linda married Dale London in 1957. After marriage her hobbies stretched to learning classical guitar and the banjo.  It was the struggle of finding a guitar that led she and her husband into their lifelong career as Master Luthiers. They began their business, London String Instrument Repair in 1969, in a tiny shop above the stores in University Place and moved to a store front shop in 1974 when the space became available. Their business was their life, their customers became their friends. Linda said “Music is like a langue of its own.  Music is one of the senses, it is like smell, you can walk into a room and smell something and it reminds you of something. Music is always embedded in your head.” She continued the business after her husband passed in 2004, they were a service to the music community for over 50 years.

Linda is survived by her daughter Jan London (former spouse Tom Addison), sisters Denice (Leon) Noble (Lincoln) and Judy (Gordon) Jones (Ashville, NC); her grandchildren Ashely (Matt) Marlow and Ryan (Adry) Fosler; two grandchildren Sheperd and Arlo; many nieces and nephews and many dear friends. Preceded in death by husband Dale London, son Mark London, parents Maynard and Thelma Finley, and infant sister.

Celebration of Life to be held in the future. Linda chose to be a tissue donor and to be cremated, those services provided by Aspen Cremation & Burial Service Inc., Lincoln, NE.  Memorials may be given to the family for future designation.  Linda was also spotlighted in STORIES OF IMPACT, at this Facebook site: https://www.facebook.com/civicnebraska/videos/368159753913691

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