Elizabeth Linxwiler

"Bobbi" as she preferred to be called, graduated from Ohio University in 1954 with a BA in Elementary Education. She moved to the Phoenix area shortly after graduating from college to be near her parents, the late Olive and Homer Mac who had retired to the Phoenix area. She became a full time Elementary School Teacher in the Alhambra School District where she taught 3rd and 4th grade for 35 years. She loved her work and thoroughly enjoyed the children. She especially enjoyed encouraging their imaginations, one of her favorite activities was to attend class in full costume on Halloween. She always decorated her class rooms for every occasion, holiday or event. Being an avid reader she worked hard to pass her passion for reading onto her students as well. Her love of educating the youthful did not stop with her own Elementary classroom, she also hosted a group of Japanese Foreign Exchange students.

Bobbi and Robert met on a blind date, and eloped in February of 1959, only 6 weeks after meeting, they were married for 54 years. Bobbi was an active member of the Andalucía PTA, Arizona Yacht Club and the Phoenix F.O.P.A Lodge 2. Being very community minded she volunteered at the weekly F.O.P.A Fish Fry fundraiser, and was a member of the F.O.P.A Annual Fundraiser Organizing Committee for several years as well as participating in many other community activities.

Bobbi had a "zest" for life and had a huge sense of adventure. She loved to entertain friends and family alike and hosted many parties over the years. She and Robert enjoyed traveling, sailing and camping. Their two trips to Tahiti were often a topic of conversation as were numerous sailing and camping trip adventures. Bobbi had an infectious laugh and always enjoyed hearing a funny story.

Bobbi had several hobbies and was quite artistic. Some of her favorite hobbies were baking and cooking, fabric painting, ceramics, decorating, machine embroidery and sewing and was a self taught seamstress. She excelled in sewing, her work rivaled professional seamstresses. In fact, her work was so good that once her son's Halloween costume was disqualified from the costume contest because the judges thought it was made by a professional. Nothing gave her greater joy than to create a quilt, costume or an article of clothing for a loved one. Every handmade gift she made was treasured by the recipient because of the thoughtfulness, detail, perfection and love she put into each item. She also took great pleasure in her cooking. She authored her own cook book and enjoyed holiday baking every year. She would start her holiday baking weeks before Christmas and always sent gift treat trays to co-workers, friends and loved ones. Bobbi also loved attending the annual Renaissance Festival and collected dragon figurines, jewelry and ornaments as keepsakes.

She is survived by her husband, Robert Linxwiler of the home and one son and daughter-in-law Rob & Vivian Linxwiler of Chandler, AZ. And one adopted foster son and daughter-in-law Timothy and Jeannette Gibson of Las Vegas, NV, and eight grandchildren, and six great- grandchildren.

As per Bobbi's wishes arrangements for a private ashes scattering ceremony are pending. And because Bobbi was both cancer and a stroke survivor, in lieu of flowers the family is requesting donations be made to the American Cancer Society or to the National Stroke Association.