Linda L. Ward

She was the wife of the late Gene D. Ward for 61 years. She was the precious mother of Donna (Mel) Verbeck, Tish (Gary) Wendt, Paula Stein and Mary (Jeffrey) Becher and the doting Grandmother of Kathryn Verbeck, Melvyn II (Stephanie) Verbeck, Jennifer Stein (Matt Milka), Molly (Austin) Burgert, Alex Wendt and Lily Becher. She was also the loving Great Grandma to Melvyn III, Henry and Melanie Verbeck, Nolan and Evelyn Milka, and Cason, Reed, Josie and baby girl Burgert due in June.

Linda was born the fifth of six children to Paul and Anna Maude Bryant in the coal mining camps of Big Stone Gap, VA on March 6, 1941. She is preceded in death by her parents, siblings Spencer Bryant (died in infancy), Bill (Margaret) Bryant, Barbara aka Tootie (Colonel) Swiney, Ronald (Edith) Bryant, Bobbie French, Emma Davis and her grandson Sean Verbeck.

Linda moved to St. Louis at the age of 13 when her father left the coal mines to make a better life for his family. She met her husband Gene, the love of her life, through mutual friends and was wed on November 8th, 1957 in St. Louis.

She had many different jobs throughout her life and always told the young people "Don't tell me you can't find a job" because if she wanted to work, she could go out and find several different jobs in a day because she was not above the work if it needed to be done.

She was the biggest fan of Country Music, Nashville and Branson being her favorite places to travel to. She enjoyed Bingo and made many friends there. One of her joys was taking the Grandchildren to Bingo for the first time when they turned 16.

Along with her husband Gene, they were 40+ year members of the Arnold Eagles Aerie 3678, him as a charter member and her as an auxiliary member. They enjoyed many activities and made lifelong friends through the organization. Making friends is the one thing she never had a problem doing.

She was a loving Aunt and Cousin to many and enjoyed a special relationship with her Niece Sheila Gleghorn.

SERVICES: Visitation 2-6pm Sunday, January 4, 2026. Funeral 10am Monday, January 5, 2026, Hoffmeister South County Chapel, 1515 Lemay Ferry Road, Lemay, MO 63125.

Interment to follow in Mount Hope Cemetery.

Memorial contributions in Linda's name to March of Dimes are greatly appreciated.