Linda Greenfield

Linda Jo (Lee) Greenfield, known to her many friends in the Fort Sam Houston Independent School District as “Greenie”, passed away early on Friday April 29th from a raging form of pneumonia. Her passing was a total shock to everyone. She spent Monday making her husband (Bill) shop with her, but by Tuesday was in intensive care at BAMC. She had always been a little red-haired fighter, and she fought going to the hospital, fought having a mask on her face, fought staying in the bed, and she was still fighting to breathe when the end came on Friday morning. She held on for her son Derek and daughter-in-law Gin (Estela Virginia), and her sons Keith and Seth, driving in from Albuquerque, as well as husband Bill to all be with her. All will be eternally grateful.

Linda was born in Christopher, IL, on September 27th 1948. She grew up in Evansville, IN, graduated from Benjamin Bosse High School in 1966. She met Bill in August 1968, and married less than 90 days later in November. Perhaps not love at first sight, but pretty close… and it lasted 53 and a half years. She didn’t know she was signing up for more than a dozen military moves, family separations, and all the other trials that come from being a military spouse, but she handled it all. When the family was transferred to Fort Sam in the summer of 1990 she was hired at the elementary school within a week. She persevered at the elementary school, middle school, and finally the high school until retiring after 27 years in June 2017. She loved the kids, she loved her co-workers, and she did everything she could to help everyone around her. The tributes and farewells placed on the web since her passing by both students whose lives she affected and by her fellow educators all go to say that she was well loved and will be missed.

She was also well known for her love of flowers, her garden, coffee, and coffee cups, dogs and cats, and shopping for bargains. Life will go on somehow, but for husband and sons, she was the rock that held it all together, so it will be tough, missing both the smiles and the stubborn Irish temper. She is also survived by 5 grandchildren (Larry, Vena, Gabriel, Aidan and James), three great grandchildren, a sister and brother-in-law in Evansville, IN, Nancy (Lee) and Mike Chandler, a brother there, Ralph Lee, a sister-in-law and husband, Donnella (Greenfield) and Bill Hall, and brother-in-law Mark Greenfield. There are also numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, Earl and Gladys Lee, and her brother, Richard Earl Lee.

Like many military families, family is spread out all over the country and because of health and travel issues, no ceremony is currently planned. There will, however, be an on-line memorial page. In accordance with her wishes, her remains will be cremated. Any donation on her behalf to Flags for Fallen Veterans, or Breast Cancer would be appreciated.