Bethany, MO: William Charles “Bill” Linthacum was born on January 27, 1936 at home on the family farm in Bethany, MO, the son of Mark and Roberta (McCoy) Linthacum. He passed away on April 23, 2026, in North Kansas City, MO due to complications of Parkinson’s Disease at the age of 90.
Bill graduated from Bethany High School in 1953 where he was an All-State football player. He attended the University of Missouri for one year where he was an offensive lineman on the Mizzou football team.
He married Rosalie Bowen on December 31, 1955, celebrating their 70th wedding anniversary on December 31, 2025. In 1957, he joined the Army Reserves and spent six years in the reserves. He farmed the family farm for more than 70 years.
Bill was a member of Prairie Chapel Church for more than 85 years and served as superintendent and Sunday School teacher. He served on the BTC Bank board, including terms as its president, and the Grand River Mutual telephone board for 24 years. For fun, he was a founding member of the Prairie Dogs, a country western/gospel band formed together with Charlie Fordyce and Larry Sharp that performed from approximately 1967 to 1991.
Bill enjoyed attending his kids and grandkids sporting events, boating and skiing, playing guitar and singing, camping and family vacations, driving his antique car in parades with friends, and checking his cows. He loved Mizzou Football and Basketball, especially the years that had a Linthacum on the roster. Faith, family, and hard work are the words that best describe Bill. Faith was at the center of his life, and right behind that was his deep love for family – caring for them, supporting them, and showing up for them every day. He worked hard six days a week, though farming never truly felt like work to him.
He was preceded in death by his parents and brother, Jim Linthacum.
Bill is survived by his wife of 70 years, Rosalie Linthacum of the home; three children, Lisa Holt (Dan), Lorna Fenimore (Brian), and Larry Linthacum (Angie); eight grandchildren, Emily Holt, Audrey Watson (Ross), Rachel Murray (Kurt), Will Fenimore (Lexie), Micah, Sarah, Hannah and William Linthacum; and four great grandsons, Boone and Cal Watson, Pratt and Rhodes Murray.
Funeral Services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, April 28 at Roberson Funeral Home, Bethany, MO. Burial will follow in Miriam Cemetery, Bethany, MO. The family will receive friends from 4:30-6:30 p.m. Monday at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to Prairie Chapel Church in care of Roberson Funeral Home, P.O. Box 46, Bethany, MO 64424. Online condolences may be left at www.robersonfuneralhome.com.
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