Linda Ruth Benet Hathcock

Linda Ruth Benet Hathcock (née Hawkins, formerly Linda Barletta), born August 18, 1964, passed away peacefully at home on August 16, 2026.

She was known for her upbeat sense of humor, delicious recipes, spooky ghost stories, and amazing capacity for loving her family and friends. Linda enjoyed helping people look their best by giving them skillful haircuts and styles. She was outgoing and talkative, and she cheerfully made friends wherever she went. She will be sorely missed by many. She was preceded in death by the love of her life, her husband, Will Hathcock; her father, James Hawkins; and her brother Christopher Hawkins (surviving spouse Mary, 3 daughters, 1 son, and 2 grandchildren).

She is survived by her children Jessica "Jessie" Kimball (Albert "Bert" Kimball) and their children Caitlin, Blake, Lilly, and great-grandchild Grayson; Christopher “Dillon” Hathcock (Liah); and William "Casey" Hathcock along with his son Tyler (Courtney) with great-grandchildren Isabella and a boy on the way; John Bittner, her partner for the last 5 years, whom she loved dearly and with whom she made many happy memories with, and her first husband, Jeff Barletta, father of Jessica.

Additional surviving family members: her mother, Marjorie Hawkins; her brother and sisters, James "Buster" Hawkins (Nancy), 1 son, 3 grandchildren; Martha Hawkins, 1 daughter, 1 son, 2 grandsons; Barbara Heimrich, 1 son, 1 daughter; and Teresa Caldwell (Philip), 2 sons, 2 daughters, 6 grandchildren.

Linda loved being a part of a huge extended family and talking about all her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces, and nephews. She was certain she was everyone's favorite grandmother, great-grandmother, aunt, great-aunt, and friend; she just might have been right.

Family will receive friends Saturday, August 22, 2026, from 3:00 PM - 5:00 PM at Whidden-McLean Funeral Home, Bartow. Condolences to family at www.whiddenmcleanfuneralhome.com