Linda Faye Walker, 83, of Columbia passed away Monday, January 7, 2019 at Boone Hospital Center. A Memorial Service will take place at 2:00 p.m. Monday, January 14 at the Missouri United Methodist Church followed by a visitation.
Linda was born in Dunklin County, Missouri on December 15, 1935 the youngest child of Hardy P. White and Maude G. (Stephens) White. She was united in marriage in Kennett, Missouri to Wayne Walker who survives at their home.
Linda is remembered by her family and friends as a beautiful, classy, friendly, funny and smart woman. She was a wife, mother and grandmother. She and Wayne celebrated their 61st wedding anniversary last August. She was embarrassingly proud of her son, daughter-in-law and 3 grandchildren. She was an active member of the Missouri United Methodist Church, teaching Sunday school and establishing the church’s library.
She received a bachelor’s degree in education from Southeast Missouri State College (University) and a master’s in library science from the University of Missouri. She was an educator/librarian with the Columbia Public Schools for 25 years. She established the library at West Junior High School when it opened in 1962. She then moved to Jefferson Junior High where she served until her retirement in 1993. Linda was a member of Alpha Delta Kappa (an education sorority) where she served as president of the local and state chapters. She was a member of the King’s Daughters and served as Circle President and City Union President. She was the first recipient of the Columbia Fund for Academic Excellence award as the outstanding junior high school educator in 1980. She was recognized by the Columbia Community Teacher’s Association as the outstanding junior high school teacher in 1993. She was recognized as an outstanding retired teacher by the Columbia Public School Foundation in 2015.
Linda is survived by her husband Wayne, son David (Brenda) Walker of Columbia and her three grandchildren: Brandon Walker of San Francisco, CA, Kate Walker of Columbia and Libby Walker of Lawrence, KS as well as nieces and nephews. Linda was preceded in death by her parents, two sisters and three brothers.
The family would like to express their appreciation for the loving care given to Linda by Home Instead and Provision Living. Memorial donations in memory may be made to the Mid-Missouri Chapter of The Alzheimer’s Association.
