Linda Michelle Curtiss, of Leesburg, Virginia, passed away unexpectedly on December 23, 2020. She was 58.

Linda was born in Leesburg, Virginia in 1962, to Elmo Franklin Dickens and Hilda Janet Hough Dickens. Linda grew up in Hamilton Virginia, graduating from Loudoun Valley High School (Purcellville), then from Trevecca Nazarene College (Nashville) with a degree in Business.

An employee of Dell, Inc., Linda worked for them, both in California , where she met her husband Ver Curtiss, and most recently, telecommuting from her home in Leesburg. Her supervisor, Lauren Noel said, "Linda was kind, generous, and thoughtful. She had a heart of gold and would do anything to help those in need." Linda had an amazing aptitude for seeing that details were always attended to, which made her excellent in business and well as her personal life.

Linda loved being active in church, growing up in the Leesburg Church of the Nazarene. Linda went on a mission trip to Haiti in the '80s. In the '90s, she and husband Ver helped plant the Western Loudoun Community Church in Purcellville, Virginia, where they served as Youth Pastors.  Back from California two years ago, she attended the Leesburg Church of the Nazarene.

When she wasn't working, she loved helping others, and creative writing. Her mother suffered a serious stroke four years ago, and Linda flew in frequently from the West Coast to help her with her recovery. Many others have attested to Linda's help, and offers of help, during difficult times.

Linda's writing prowess was first formally acknowledged in the Fifth Grade, when she won First Place in the Junior Women's Club of Loudoun writing contest with her tome, "If I were a Termite", describing the life and times of a teenage termite. In college she wrote "God is Everywhere" and "Digging Potatoes", two short stories, the first about a young boy experiencing God all about him in his daily travels; the second about Linda's annual late-summer "chore" of helping her Grandfather Dickens with his potato harvest. More recently Linda wrote the beautiful biographies of her late mother Janet Tyson and her late step-father Harry Tyson .

Linda was predeceased by her father, Elmo Franklin Dickens; her mother, Hilda Janet Hough Dickens-Tyson; and her step-father, Harry L. Tyson, Jr.

Surviving relatives include her husband, Ver Curtiss of Leesburg, Virginia; brother and sister-in-law Gary and Beverly Dickens of Warsaw, Virginia; brother and sister-in-law Troy and Elaine Dickens of Haymarket, Virginia; nephews Michael Dickens, John Dickens; nieces Victoria Lansing, Amy Dickens.

Arrangements are by Colonial Funeral Home of Leesburg, Virginia. Her "Celebration of Life" Service will be at 12:00 pm on Tuesday, January 5, 2021, at the Leesburg Church of the Nazarene. The service is open to all, social distancing will be observed and masks are required. Interment will follow at the Hillsboro Cemetery, all are welcome.

Our family thanks everyone for their outpouring of love and support during this difficult time. Linda's mom Janet Tyson owned Jerry's Flowers & Gifts for many years if you'd like to send flowers. You are also welcome to make a donation to the Leesburg Church of the Nazarene, the Western Loudoun Community Church, or Samaritan's Purse, three of Linda's favorite organizations.