Celebration of life: Memorial service will be conducted at 11 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 29, 2015, at First United Methodist Church, 777 N. Walnut Creek Drive, Mansfield, 76063, with a reception to follow. Pastor Mike Ramsdell will officiate the ceremony. All are welcome to attend and celebrate Linda Joy's life.
Linda was born in 1952 in Des Moines, Iowa, and graduated from North Little Rock High School, class of 1970. Linda received a degree in physics from Southwestern in Memphis (Rhodes College), class of 1975. Linda married Cameron Thompson, whom she met while both were working overseas, in 1977. Her professional career included various engineering positions. She retired from the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission in Arlington as a senior reactor analyst.
Linda's joyous, compassionate and caring soul will forever carry an extraordinary influence with all who knew her. Linda deeply and positively impacted so many people throughout her life. In addition to nurturing her family, Linda was actively involved in numerous church congregations: Al-Anon Family Groups; local chapters of Lewy Body, Alzheimer's, and Parkinson's Association programs, and support groups related to these diseases.She was preceded in death by her parents, Dale Smith and Noma Umpherman Smith.
Survivors: Husband, Cameron Thompson; daughters, Ericka (Patrick) Rutherford and Monica (Rueben) Thompson; grandchildren, Kaleb and Oliver Rutherford; siblings, Lee, Darrell, Shawn and Laurie Smith. Linda is further survived by a large, loving extended family and friends.
In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the Lewy Body Dementia Association, 912 Killian Hill Rd SW #103, Lilburn, GA 30047, or a charity of your choice.
Thomas Milton Carpenter
Linda was one of the sweetest and most supportive members in our class. Her talents were in the classroom, music, and a general healthy interest in just about everything and everybody. She saw the best in all of us because she seemed so comfortable with herself. Look at our senior yearbook; she is dancing in Lather, serving as royalty for the track team, qualifying as a National Merit finalist, and marching with the band. And in all of those roles she was smiling, enthusiastic, and involved. She is another reason we were so blessed to be part of such an amazing class.