Linda Cass Smith

Linda C. Smith passed away at home on May 19, 2023 at age 81 after a long battle with emphysema. She was preceded in death by her sister, Deborah Appler and her children, Gordon Smith and Crossley Dellis.

Linda was born on March 13, 1942 in Wayne, Illinois. She was the first of four daughters of Ruth and Thomas Cass. She spent most of her life in California and settled in Santa Barbara in 1989.

Linda had a passion for art; she was a docent at the Santa Barbara Art Museum and later held several positions with the Museum store. She was a talented plein air watercolor artist and her paintings were shown in exhibitions throughout the years. She was a member of the California Watercolor Association, Santa Barbara Art Association, Goleta Valley Art Association, SCAPE, Group 16, and California Gold Coast Watercolor Society. She was also an avid gardener and the fruits and flowers from her garden often became the subjects of her paintings. Her front yard garden was admired and appreciated by neighbors and passersby. She was a fabulous cook and a gracious hostess for her family and friends.

Linda is survived by her partner Stan Ritter, sisters Tora Routhier (Steve) and Laura Cass (Chuck Ames), daughter-in-law Laurel Scheinman, son-in-law Donald Dellis, and grandchildren Cass and Benjamin (Ben) Dellis. She will be dearly missed by her family, friends, and all who had the pleasure of knowing this gracious woman.

We are so grateful for Linda’s caregiver and dear friend, Karen Hansen, for her dedication, compassion, and kindness.
In lieu of flowers, a donation may be made to her favorite nonprofit organizations: Direct Relief International and Planned Parenthood.