Linda H. Baas McClelland

Linda Hartlerode Baas McClelland, aged 80, passed away peacefully on July 15th. She was born in Columbus, Ohio on June 26, 1945 to Arthur (Victor) and Florence Hartlerode. She graduated from Bexley High School (1963) and The Ohio State University (1967), where she was a member of the Kappa Alpha Theta Sorority. In 1967, she married James W. Baas and following his death, married Jeffrey McClelland in 1993.

She worked initially as a teacher before stepping away to raise a family and launch a successful career as an interior designer – running her own design firm for nearly forty years. She was a proud resident of both Bexley and Upper Arlington, with strong ties to both communities. Linda loved to cook and entertain, was a talented painter and cartoon artist, and an active volunteer – serving as a docent for the Columbus Museum of Art; working for several years in support of the Columbus Childhood League and their annual Merry Go Round event; and later in life reviewing movies for the local NPR station. For the past several years, she was an active member of St. John’s United Church of Christ in Columbus.

Linda enjoyed traveling – especially to Green Turtle Cay and the many places her children and grandchildren were living – but most of all, she loved to spend time with friends and family at Seneca Lake.

She is survived by her husband, Jeff; sister, Sally Swad (Bill, deceased); sisters-in-law: Susan Baas (Jake, deceased), Gretchen Towers (Ed), and Susie Rath (Charlie, deceased); Children: Daniel Baas, David Baas (Becca), Jennifer McClelland-Smith (Beau), and Andrew McClelland (Vivian); seven grandchildren: Caroline, James, Luke, Peter, Owne, Thompson, and Elliana; and many beloved nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Visitation will be held on Friday, August 1st from 4 to 6pm at Schoedinger Northwest (1740 Zollinger Rd, Columbus). A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, August 2nd at 11am at Saint Alban's Episcopal Church (333 S. Drexel Ave, Bexley) followed by a 1pm reception at Harrison on Fifth (579 W. Fifth Ave, Columbus).

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in her honor to either the Upper Arlington Education Foundation (Jim Baas Scholarship at http://www.uaeducationfoundation.com) or the St. John’s United Church of Christ (Largest Table Outreach Mission at 614-224-8634 or https://www.stjohnschurchcolumbus.org/the-largest-table.html).