Linda Rita Chenoweth

April 29, 1951 — January 5, 2026

Linda Rita Hartke Chenoweth, of Beavercreek, Ohio, passed away peacefully at her home surrounded by loving family on Monday, January 5th, 2026, at the age of 74.

Born in Dayton, Ohio, Linda graduated from Julienne Catholic High School in 1969 and married her husband, Alan, in 1970. She was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, sister, friend, and the beloved matriarch of the Hartke family.

Linda dedicated 33 years of her career to Mound Laboratory, where she worked as an Engineering Technician supporting the U.S. Atomic Program. Whip-smart and deeply capable, she often joked that in another timeline she would have been the engineer rather than the assistant. She was especially proud of her contributions to building the power generators for the Voyager and Cassini NASA missions, and she delighted in reminding her daughters of her top-secret security clearance whenever questions arose about her work.

Her steady presence and unfaltering love were felt by all who knew her. Linda was often the first to arrive and the last to leave family gatherings—the rock her loved ones could always count on. An enthusiastic Euchre player, she relished euchring her opponents and proudly wore the loner hat more often than most. She loved a good party, a beer in hand, and being surrounded by her large, loud, laughing family.

Throughout her life, Linda enjoyed golf, tennis, bowling, playing the piano, online chess, slot machines at the casino, elaborate cross-stitch projects, crossword puzzles, gardening, daily neighborhood walks, and baking what many agreed were the best chocolate chip cookies on the planet.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Sylvester and Ruth Hartke; her brothers, Greg and Dan Hartke; her nephew, Larry Chenoweth Jr.; and her niece, Stephanie Bly. Linda is survived by her loving husband, Alan; her daughters, Tara (Tony) Ohrazda and Kelly (Sean) Griffith; her grandchildren, Ethan and Keirra Griffith; her siblings, Joe (Gina), Mark (Carol), Paul (Joyce), Tim (Kate), Julia, and Beverly (Rich); and numerous extended family members and friends.

Visitation will be held from 4:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Friday, January 16, 2026, at Tobias Funeral Home Beavercreek Chapel, 3970 Dayton-Xenia Rd., Dayton, OH 45432. A Memorial Mass will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, January 17, 2026, at St. Luke’s Catholic church, 1440 N. Fairfield Rd., Beavercreek, OH 45432, with a luncheon to immediately follow.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Ohio’s Hospice of Dayton or the Alzheimer’s Association.