Retired Army Colonel William Erwin Linn, 85, of Fayetteville, died Thursday, Nov. 30, 2006, in Cape Fear Valley Medical Center. Funeral services will be held Monday at 11:30 am in Northwood Temple with Dr. John Hedgepeth, Rev. Art Webb, and Rev. Bobby Forehand officiating. The burial with full military honors will follow at the Post Cemetery on Fort Bragg. Mr. Linn was born and raised in Pittsburgh. He served in the Army for 33 years. He began his career as a private in 1939, and served in World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War. By the end of World War II he had attained the rank of Captain. He served in numerous leadership positions including battalion commander, 2nd Field Artillery, in Germany, and Director of the School of Psychological Operations at the JFK Special Forces Center at Fort Bragg. His military medals and commendations include the Purple Heart, the Army Commendation Medal, the Legion of Merit, The Vietnam Service Medal with 2 Battle Stars, the South Vietnam Government's Psychological Warfare Medal, 2nd Class, and the Bronze Star. During retirement, Colonel Linn devoted many years of service to the Royal Rangers, a youth development ministry of the Pentecostal Holiness Church. He served in a varietyof roles including North Carolina State Commander and Commander of the Northwood Temple Outpost. His work with this ministry has impacted thousands of young men throughout the state of North Carolina. He was preceded in death by his loving first wife of 49 years, Verda Lea Bridgers Linn. He is survived by his second wife, Antoinette Linn of the home; sons, William E. Linn, Jr., and his wife, Nancy, Atlanta, Gary W. Linn and his wife, Dawn of Rocky Face, Georgia, Stephen W. Linn and his wife, Mary Ann of Concord, NC; Daughter, Hazel G. Linn of Atlanta; Sisters, Doris L. Hepp of Pittsburgh and Carol L. Jones of Royal Oak, Michigan; Four grandchildren, William E. Linn, III., Katherine W. Linn, Christopher G. Linn, Brady L. Linn. The family will receive friends from 3 to 5 pm on Sunday, December 3, 2006 at the funeral home.