Doris Arlene Lininger

Doris Arlene Bloom was born October 19, 1928. She was the oldest of five sisters, who were lifetime best friends. She was raised in Curwensville, PA during the depression. She was a child of strong will and character. Her second sister, Millie, was often known to tattle when she went exploring in the woods, or tried to follow her Dad down the mountain to work, "Da Boom run off!"

She loved learning, studying, anything to do with reading. She attended a country, one room school house, her teacher was her Uncle Harry, a very strict disciplinarian, who demanded the best from his students which created her character and habits for her entire lifetime. When she was the ONLY seventh grader, she was given the task of helping the eighth graders prepare for the entrance examination for high school. Mr. Bloom allowed her to take the test with them. She passed with flying colors skipping to high school at age fourteen. The fact that she was younger than everyone in her class never intimidated her. She was active in the thespians, was the head drum majorette and the winner of a creative writing contest. She was always a booster of the Curwensville "Golden Tide" graduating from Curwensville High School in 1945 at sixteen and becoming a lifelong member of the Curwensville Alumni Association.

She then completed a business school course and went to work as a secretary at NARCO, or "The Brickyard". Being sponsored local businessmen and the local newspaper, she become the very first Miss Clearfield County and participated in the Miss Pennsylvania Pageant in Pittsburgh at eighteen.

She retired from NARCO to marry her high school sweet heart, Richard LaVern Lininger in 1951 and started their family of five girls in 1952. She was actively involved in many and varied community area service and church functions, including Little Theater Group, Women's Club, the neighborhood card club, The Democratic Women, fundraising for The Cancer Society, The Heart Association, The Veterans' Administration and the Clearfield County Children Home, Women's Aglow, The Search for Peace Christmas Pageant costume and makeup supervisor, Clearfield Pool Association and YMCA members, Senior Girls Scout Leader and Day Camp director, Clearfield County Jail Ministry, Assembly of God Missionette's Leader, Prayer Chain coordinator for the First Assembly of God in Clearfield, PA and was on The Jesus Festival at Agape Farms board of directors.

As a mother of five girls, she enthusiastically backed and facilitated all their interests and activities, while following her Uncle Harry dedication to hard work and self discipline in academics, she required and encouraged them to always do their very best, which meant excel. She did whatever was necessary for that to become a reality. With late night editing and typing of papers, quizzing and studying for tests, checking home working, helping with projects, from salt maps to cooking and science projects, she was intimately and integrally involved. She drove the girls and their teammates to various sporting events swim team, basketball, softball, gymnastics, ever a cheerleader and part-time coach. She bravely took two dozen Senior Girls Scouts to Expo '67 in Montreal Canada, she was always up for a campout at Greenwood Hunting Camp, chasing down the mama black bear and three cubs, picking huckleberries while trying to avoid the rattlesnakes, or tailgating with hot soup and sandwiches for evening tobogganing in Riddle's cornfield. Our many trips to Sinnemahoning State Park allowed us all to explore the beauty of God's country-Pennsylvania Grand Canyon, Penn's Cave, and other state parks throughout the area. She was always up for an adventure and ready for a good time. She made life's simple things exciting and fun!

She started a second career as secretary for Pennsylvania State senator and eventual US Congressman, Joe Ammerman. When Dick also became involved in politics as Clearfield County commissioner, she was ever his ardent supporter and encouraging wife. They participated and actively supported and campaigned for candidates state wide.

In 1974, the most important event in her life occurred when she accepted Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior totally transforming her personality and purpose. Her passion for people became her focus always encouraging others to know Christ and become His disciple. She and Dick made Sunday school and church a priority attending Bible studies, Full Gospel Businessman's meetings and other ministries that allowed her to pour the love of Jesus into the lives of those who God brought into her world.

She traveled to meet and care for most of her 19 grandchildren upon their arrival from Maine, California, West Point, NY, Texas, Illinois, Texas, Texas and Texas a few more times.

She started her next career as church secretary for First Assembly of God in Clearfield, PA which she continued for 10 years until the Lord closed every door and directed her and Dick to Tyler, TX in 2004. Never a slacker, she started her final career as secretary for Energy Improvements because they lived in a rental home owned by the company. She was the first person that worked remotely. LOL She finally retired and began investing her time in CrossPointe Community Church, where she and Dick were founding and board members.

She jumped right into life in Texas with two feet! She joined her weight control group, T.O.P.S., auditing various classes at Tyler Junior College, doing water aerobics, weight lifting, and walking every day. She became an avid supporter of all of her 19 grandchildren and 28(+1 soon) great-grandchildren never missing an event and a chance to celebrate their accomplishments. She even became a teacher for her grandson, Nicolas, helping him continue to learn and chauffeuring him to his many activities and church events. He later became her strong right arm and escort.

She always loved a get together with a chance to play Mexican Train, but her hearing aids had to be turned off, scrabble was another game she enjoyed, as long as you used the right dictionary. She kept her mind sharp constantly reading, doing crossword puzzles, word searches, and Sudoku, challenging anyone brave enough to participate. She usually won. Family gatherings and road trips to T.O.P.S. conventions, the Texas Hill Country, Branson, Florida or Pennsylvania by way of Illinois were the greatest blessings of her last years.

Then, she had several falls, a car accident, reoccurrence of oral cancer, and heart failure which began to slow her down a little in body, but not in spirit. Her overwhelming desire was always loving and serving others, now she was in need of increasing care and help. It was against her nature, but God's Grace allowed her to receive as beautifully, as she had given, always grateful! Her life proclaimed God's Goodness and Mercy. Her number one life lesson was, "Count your Blessings" Her final prayer journal entry January 8th was simply, "Thankful". Her heart was full of Love, her words were wise, kind, and truthful. Her life was a Light for Jesus, glorifying her Father in Heaven. WE ARE THANKFUL!

Doris is survived by her five daughters, Linda Lininger Cooke, Sherri Lininger, Jaymie Lininger Shine and husband Michael, Marsha Lininger Triebold and husband Howie and Dori Lininger Eikner and husband Glenn; grandchildren, Aaron and Seth Cooke, Janessa Shine, Isaac Cooke, Janell Shine Pummill, Charity Cooke McDonald, Michelle Triebold Whitfield, Lori Triebold Ismay, Benjamin Eikner, Teresa Triebold Daigle, Peter Cooke, Thomas Eikner, Jayson Shine, Faith Cooke, Hope Cooke Garrett, John Eikner, Jonas Cooke, Christian Eikner, and Nicolas Cooke. She is also survived by 28 great - grandchildren with number 29 due in April.

Serving as pallbearers are her Grandsons.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to her 2 greatest passions, sharing the love of Jesus through missions, to Calvary Commission Faith Promise Fund - CrossPointe Church; and reading, to Green Acres Baptist Church library.

A Time of Visitation will be held on Sunday, January 30, 2022 at the Chapel of Tyler Memorial Funeral Home from 4:30 p.m - 6:00 p.m. A Celebration of Life service will be held on Monday, January 31, 2022 at The Chapel of Tyler Memorial Funeral Home starting at 11:00 a.m.