Linda Loflin Dirnberger

Linda Loflin Malone Dirnberger, surrounded by her family at home, was called to Heaven on May 11,2024. Born on July 24, 1946, in Memphis, Tennessee, Linda was the loved and cherished daughter of the late William B and Irene Kelso Loflin, who no doubt, along with her late husband, Helmut M Dirnberger, met her at heaven’s gate. In her young adult years, she married the late Kenneth T Malone with whom she had two children, Gwen Malone Rice (Richard, husband) and Matthew Miles Malone (Carrie, wife) who survive her. She also leaves her loving, younger brother, William “Boyd” Loflin (Christy, wife) and cousin, Maurice Boyd “Buddy” Loflin (Gail, wife) to carry on her love of family storytelling and many close cousins, nieces and nephews. Her greatest role, for which she was famously known, was “Mimi” to her grandchildren, Brighton Leigh McShane, Sadie Rose and Samual Miles Malone. They were her Greatest joy, and she was Head over Heels in Love with each of them. She was granted an additional blessing of another granddaughter, Pamela Rice Collyer later in life.

Linda was a 1964 graduate of Treadwell High School where lifelong best friendships with Patricia “Patsy” Morris Graves and Monte Doris Owen were solidified and maintained until this very day. She attended Memphis State University and held varied positions during her working years including Director of the German Student Exchange Program for the Memphis Board of Education, traveling often to Europe. She had the opportunity to travel to communist held East Berlin to meet numerous families who asked her to share their story, which she did. Linda received a personal telephone call from then President Ronald Reagan, acknowledging her work and the people of East Berlin, a very proud moment in her career. Additionally, she worked as a Reiki and Reflexologist practitioner and instructor and was instrumental in the initiation of a palliative care program for Hospice of Southeastern Connecticut. Linda lived in both Memphis and Connecticut, however, she never lost her Southern Roots, always speaking with a thick Southern Accent and sharing her love of all things Southern.

Her last years were spent with her husband, Helmut/Opa caring for multitude of animals (dogs, cats, chickens, fish and a parrot), volunteering for Hospice and tending to their gardens. Linda had her father’s green thumb and could place a twig in the ground that would grow into something beautiful. She was quirky, whimsical and could make broken things come together in the most amazing ways. Linda loved learning about other people’s stories and never met a stranger.

A Celebration of Life will be held at a future date in Memphis, Tennessee.

In lieu of flowers, please honor her love of animals with a donation to the Owl Rescue, Freedom First Wildlife Rehab Inc in Waterford, CT.