4/25/50 - 9/30/22
In loving memory of Linda Leaha Foster-Hall, who will be deeply missed by her husband, family, many friends and Samuel her Schnauzer.
Linda was born in Upland, CA to Wallace and Nadine Foster. She was proud of being a second-generation Californian. In the early 60’s her family relocated to Sacramento. Graduating from El Camino HS, she earned her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Economics from Sacramento State. After working in banking for a few years, she then found her home in Public Finance working for the County of Sacramento, the State of Arkansas in the Governor’s Budget Office, and the City of Dallas.
In 1984 needing some assistance with her work at Sacramento County she requested a student intern. Returning from vacation, she was introduced to her intern, an Air Force pilot on leave to complete an internship. Bob was the intern. They met on Monday; On Friday they had their first date and were together for the next 37 1/2 years. They were married on the first anniversary of that first date. Twice Bob’s career took her away from Sacramento. On each return to Sacramento, she returned to employment with Sacramento County. Rising through the County Executive’s Office, she worked as the County Construction and Facilities Manager. She worked with architects and contractors to build the new County Jail, Court House, Coroner Crime Lab and Systems and Data Processing Building. At the same time, she found her calling in public bond financing. She was well respected in the public finance industry. She was ultimately appointed County Budget Officer, retiring in 2009 after several years in that position.
Just before their wedding, Bob introduced Linda to auto racing taking her to the Daytona 500, an annual trip that continued for the next 17 years. Linda recognized that Bob was a racing fan, but what she didn’t know was he had a desire to race. For his 42 birthday he bought a go-kart, thus beginning a 26-year journey of racing and race tracks around the country. Initially, she just did timing and lifting for him. Being bored, she started working on the tires, and then the carburetors. Finally, she learned to swap engines. He eventually moved to sports cars and they bought a motorhome making the race weekends more fun and relaxing. During budget season she would set up her computer and spread-sheets on the dash and work on them through the weekend between races. Bob credits her with being his crew-chief. Linda was well known around the tracks for peddling her tri-cycle with an air tank, tire gauge and back scratcher, telling people she was off-setting his carbon footprint. She would drive home from the races since Bob was still apexing the corners, learning to handle a motorhome and trailer on the interstate highways of this country. Linda’s best friend thought her a saint for participating in Bob’s racing endeavors and Bob agreed!
Linda and Bob enjoyed traveling with an initial goal of visiting all 50 states. While driving back to Sacramento after living in Little Rock, they took a 7000-mile trip to see the eastern part of the US. Once completing the 50, Linda then wanted to see Europe and the larger US cities. Her list was not finished but she did get to Paris, London and New York City. Along the way they saw many of the beautiful parts and places of this world and met many interesting people.
Linda’s life ended too soon. She led a good life, was loved by her family and friends and was well respected by her co-workers. Bob will tell you that he could not have found a better partner to spend his life. She will be greatly missed by all. Linda was pre-deceased by her parents and is survived by her husband, Bob, and Samuel, and a large extended family.
Linda’s favorite charities were PBS and The Red Cross in support of California Fire Relief. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to either of these or to your favorite charity in her honor. A memorial service is scheduled at the Harry Nauman Funeral home, Sacramento. She will be laid to rest at the Sacramento Valley Veterans Cemetery.
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