Cynthia I. Linnon

Cynthia I. Linnon Cynthia I. Linnon, 49, of State Route 417, Oakland Township, Franklin, passed away at 3:55 a.m., Sunday, May 29 at UPMC Presbyterian Hospital in Pittsburgh, following a sudden illness. Born November 3, 1961, in Oil City, Cynthia was the daughter of the late LeRoy C. and Hazel I. Griffin Stevenson. She was married to Scott Linnon, October 10, 1998, and he survives. She attended Mt. Carmel Tabernacle. She was a 1979 graduate of Oil City High School and earned a bachelor's degree, majoring in finance and minoring in economics, from Clarion University, where she graduated magna cum laude. Cynthia was employed for several years as District Administrative Supervisor for the Philadelphia-based Charming Shops, Inc., parent company of the Fashion Bug Stores. In 1994, she was named Executive Director of Oil City's Community Development Corp., an agency focused on promoting economic growth and revitalization, creating employment opportunities and enhancing the quality of life within the city. In that role, the well-known and highly regarded Linnon was instrumental in the downtown Oil City multi-phase Renaissance projects, tax credit programs to spur local business growth, All-America City finalist honors, the PennDOT acquisition of the empty Quaker State headquarters, the construction of an apartment complex at the former Middle School site, and more. When the Oil City CDC was blended into the newly created Oil Region Alliance of Business, Industry and Tourism in January 2005, Cynthia was named interim director and served nearly a year in that position. Cynthia and two business partners founded Franklin Bronze Plaque Company, a woman owned corporation, in 2006. The company has received national recognition for creating solid bronze customized plaques for the American Planning Association's outstanding streets, neighborhood and open space designations across the U.S. in 2010, and reproducing yellow dog lanterns from original Oilwell Supply moulds in 2009. Cynthia was a member of the VNA Foundation Board. She was known for the love she had for her animals. She was a very creative and dynamic person, especially around her home. Cynthia was very caring, and would do anything for a person in need. She also enjoyed traveling. In addition to her husband, Cynthia is survived by her son, Devin J. Litwiler of Pittsburgh; her brothers, Allen L. Stevenson of Buffalo, New York, LeRoy C. Stevenson and his wife, Hilda, of Oil City, and Mark W. Stevenson and his wife, Jodi, of Seattle, Washington; and her sister, Patty J. Stevenson of Atlanta, Georgia. In addition to her parents, Cynthia was also preceded in death by her nephew, Michael Stevenson. Family and friends of Cynthia will be received at the Gardinier Funeral Home, Inc., 1315 Chestnut Street, Franklin, on Thursday, June 2, from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Funeral Services will be held at The Galloway United Methodist Church at 11 a.m., Friday, June 3, with Rev. Joseph P. Martin, Jr., officiating. Interment will be in Dempseytown Lutheran Cemetery. The family suggests that memorial contributions be made to the Venango County Humane Society , P.O. Box 1045, Oil City, PA 16301; the American Red Cross, Allegheny Region Chapter, P.O. Box 370, Reno, PA 16343, and/or the American Cancer Society, PA Division Inc., P.O. Box 896, Hershey PA 17033-0896. Online condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.gardinierfuneralhome.com.