Linda Anne Kinnerup

September 30, 1945, to March 17, 2022

Linda Anne (Waterhouse) Kinnerup, 76, passed away March 17, 2022. She was born in Santa Fe, New Mexico, September 30, 1945, to Maj. Robert L. and Ruby (Steele) Waterhouse. The family lived at various army posts in her youth including Korea and postwar Japan. After her father's retirement from the military, the family settled in El Paso, Texas, where Linda graduated from Irvin High School in 1969. Linda relocated to the Phoenix area in 1964. She worked full time as a bank teller while attending Arizona State University to pursue a degree in Education. Linda was the first in her family to graduate college in 1969 and went on to teach middle school English in the Tempe Arizona School District. It was during this time she met and married the love of her life, Kenneth K. Kinnerup in 1973. They spent 30 blissful years together.

After receiving her master’s degree from Arizona State University, she became the principal at Pueblo Middle School. After her retirement from the district, she went on to work at Northern Arizona University in a master’s program “teaching teachers to teach” always helping others earn their teaching certificates. She was always a devoted teacher and principal who will be remembered, by former students and staff, for her many kindnesses. In her spare time Linda enjoyed traveling, reading, trips to the casino and spending time with family and friends.

A beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, aunt, and friend. She will be sorely missed. She was preceded in death by her husband Ken, parents Robert and Ruby Waterhouse, and brother Robert “Larry” Waterhouse. She is survived by her daughter Erin Murphy (Tom) of Phoenix, son Ryan Kinnerup (Shana) of San Diego, grandchildren Erica Murphy, Brendan Murphy, Kieran Kinnerup, McKenna Kinnerup, Mason Kinnerup. Great grandchildren Eden Kanekuea and Jayceon Hardy. Sisters Marcia Daniels (Alan Jackson) and Diane Christmas of El Paso, Texas, and Kathy Waterhouse (Dennis Wendland) of Anthony, New Mexico. Numerous nieces and nephews: Michael Caldarella, Caitlin Wendland (Joshua), Matthew Christmas (Amanda), Meghan Christmas-Hutchison

(Sean), Robert Waterhouse (Liz), Kyle Christmas (Maggie) and Aiden Christmas. Preceded in death by brothers-in-law, Mike Daniels, and John Christmas, and sister-in-law Roberta Waterhouse.

Linda was loved by many. She was a woman who had dreams and goals and achieved them. She had a wonderful career in Education that she loved dearly. She found the love of her life in Kenneth Kinnerup, and together raised 2 wonderful children. She was always so proud that all four of them graduated from Arizona State University. She found a new love in her life when she became a proud Grandma and Yaya to her 5 grandchildren and 2 great-grandchildren. As with all “grandmother like persons” she loved to spoil those babies. They held an incredibly special place in her heart.

Linda was a die-hard democrat and so very loyal to her party. She learned in her later years to discuss politics by “playing nice with others.” She certainly did her part to bring attention to the issues that were so very important to her. Never let her party down!

You can tell a lot about a person by the friends in their lives. Linda and Ken were very blessed with so very many lifelong friends. They have been a part of their lives for decades and feel more like family than friends. Some of these special people are Pam and Rowland Gassler, Jan Merkel, Richard and Jean McCann, Blain and Carole Robinson, Virginia McGregor, Ellen Salverson, Debbie Haines and Mary Gruman, Pat and Ralph Ballentine, and a host of other friends who she treasured, and who in turn, blessed her life.

Linda regularly donated to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital, the ASPCA, and St. Mary’s food bank.

Special Thanks to Dr. Christina Reuss and Dr. Joan Bailey and to Home Instead Health Care especially Yulitza who took such diligent care of her.

Arrangements made by Valley of the Sun Mortuary in Chandler, Arizona.

Celebration of Life will be held on April 2, 2022, from 2:00pm until 6:00pm at her home located at 16206 S. 39th St. Phoenix, Arizona 85048. Remembrance will be at 3:00 pm. Please join us.