Obituary of Linda S. Capps

Linda Sheppard Capps, 79, of West Chester, Pennsylvania passed away unexpectedly on Sunday, January 23, 2022 at Chester County Hospital. She was surrounded by her loving family when she departed to be reunited with her late husband, Ross Capps, with whom she shared 55 years of marriage. Born in Bridgeton, NJ in 1942, she was the daughter of the late Harry and Emma Mingin Sheppard. Linda graduated from Bridgeton High School in 1961, then Glassboro State College in 1965 and began her career as a teacher. She used to bring her raccoon to class with her, which her students loved. She started as a second-grade teacher, and then was a Kindergarten teacher in the Upper Deerfield Township School District until she retired from teaching. She helped her husband run both the Hickory Steakhouse in Bridgeton, and Capps Day Camp in Fairton. Capps Day Camp was such an important part of her life, and she loved raising her children to be a part of it. She loved taking her kids on canoe trips. She continued to teach until they moved to Pennsylvania to open Brandywine Picnic Park. Linda and Ross both devoted their entire lives to running Brandywine Picnic Park with their extended family for over 30 years, which gave them immeasurable fulfillment. Linda was a joy to be around. She had a deep love for the simple but beautiful things in life: birds, flowers, and other wildlife. She loved her birdfeeders and could often be found setting out snacks for squirrels and raccoons on her deck as well. She loved being outside, and spending time outdoors with her family was her favorite place to be. She also loved doting on her beloved Maine Coon cat, Whiskers. She loved the winter, and could always be seen watching the snow from her window. She took many ski trips throughout her life and loved ice skating with her family - especially on Clark's Pond and the Brandywine River. She could usually be found unwinding by the fireplace with a good book. She had a pony as a child, and loved all the horses she and her husband had later in life which they got to share with their family. Being a grandmother and great-grandmother were her proudest accomplishments in life. She loved sharing her old memories and making new ones with them. She loved teaching them things whenever possible. And of course, like any grandmother, she loved making food and feeding them. She was a big fan of puzzles and board games, which she played with her own children when they were little, and continued this with both her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Linda is survived by her children, Sheridan (Kathleen) Capps, Audra Capps (Robbie Gibson) and Wade Capps (Ana); her grandchildren, Katelyne (Bobby) Phillips, Devin, Lindsey and Cameron Capps, Briand and Tyler Capps, Emma Capps-Gibson, and Lane and Mallory Capps. She is also survived by her great grandchildren, Kyle, Catherina and Robert Phillips, Kaydence and Mason Britton and Graylin and Barrett Curry; and by a nephew Jason Capps and great nieces Lily and Lauren Capps. She was predeceased in death by her beloved husband, B. Ross Capps. Funeral services will be held at the PADGETT FUNERAL HOME, 1107 State Highway 77, Upper Deerfield Township, NJ on Tuesday, February 1st at 1:00 PM. Friends will be received at the funeral home from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM prior to the services. Interment will take place at Overlook Cemetery in Bridgeton. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations in Linda’s name be made to the American Bird Conservancy.