Linda W Kempton

She is survived by her devoted husband, Tom, 80, whose life was intertwined with hers through decades of love, partnership, and shared laughter. She also leaves behind her two loving sons, Zak (Kristin) and Steve (Alissa), who carry forward her kindness, humor, and quiet strength in their own lives and her four grandchildren, Jack, Ella, Natalie, and Eddie. She was proudest of her family and cherished her time with them. At home, she adored pets having been the owner of three cocker spaniels and a calico cat over her lifetime.

Linda was from Dayton, Ohio and graduated from Northmont High School in 1962. She shared a lifetime of memories with her extended family and was proud to be the younger sister of her three older brothers.

A longtime resident of Cincinnati, Ohio, she built a life rooted in warmth, generosity, and family. She had a rare ability to make people feel welcome and seen–whether they were lifelong friends or someone she had just met. To know her was to feel, even briefly, like you belonged.

She lived her early adulthood in San Francisco, California and had developed lifelong friendships in the City by the Bay and the Golden State. She often returned to visit and had great memories of her time there.

She loved crafts, greeting cards, and photographs, not just for the joy of it, but for what it meant: bringing people together, sharing something made with care, offering comfort in small, tangible ways. Her kitchen was a place of laughter, conversation, and the quiet magic of everyday life. She always let others know that she cared about them and was thinking about them.

Her sense of humor was unmistakable–quick, warm, and often delightfully unexpected. She could lift a room with a single remark, and she carried that lightness even through life’s more difficult moments. She watched her favorite TV shows regularly– Perry Mason, Murder She Wrote, NCIS, and more

Above all, she loved deeply. Her family was the center of her world, and everything she did–every meal prepared, every card or photo shared, every laugh offered–was an extension of that love. She lit up the lives of those around her in ways both large and small, and that light does not fade with her passing.

The family will be having a private celebration of life for Linda and appreciate all those who have reached out with condolences.