By Maura Bowman

A 55-YEAR-OLD Dundee woman has died just an hour after finalising her father’s funeral arrangements from her hospital bed.

Now former dancing champion and teacher Linda Linton and her father George (80), who died just four days apart, will share a joint funeral next week.

Family friend Wilma Johnson said both deaths had come as a shock.

“George was only diagnosed with prostate cancer three weeks ago and we all thought he was just going into hospital for tests on Friday, but he died,” she explained.

While Linda had been ill for some time, her family and friends did not realise how frail she had become until she asked for help on the day her father died. She was later admitted to Ninewells Hospital, where she died on Tuesday.

Linda had asked Wilma to assist with her father’s funeral arrangements, she said. “When it was all agreed with the undertaker, I said, ‘Well, your Dad’s sorted and it will be fine,’ and Linda said, ‘Thank God. I just need to sleep now.’

Wilma added, “She died about an hour later and I think she was just holding on for that.”

Wilma’s partner Nick Dennison grew up next door to the Lintons in Charleston and has known the family all his life.

Linda was a Highland dancer in her youth who won numerous trophies, including the runner-up prize in the junior section of the world championships at Cowal. It was an interest she shared with her father, a former piper and Dundee Highland Dancing Association committee member.

As well as teaching dancing, Linda spent her early working life in the Cowgate offices of Low & Bonar.

George was a bus driver alongside Nick’s father before moving to other jobs in the motor trade.

Lintons and Dennisons later became next-door neighbours when they were the first tenants of then new homes in Charleston.

They were neighbours for 50 years and, said Nick, they became as close as family. “It’s a tragedy. My mum and dad are really going to miss them,” he added.

He said since the death of Linda’s mother, Jean, 11 years ago, both she and George suffered increasing ill health. But they enjoyed a night out with friends for George’s 80th birthday in February at the Kettledrum Bar, where he was on the dominoes team for 47 years.

It was the last time they were both well enough to enjoy a night out together. Now the same venue is to host their wake.