Linda Lucille Walker

Linda Lucille (Wilhite) Walker was an absolute joy. She embodied excitement and a pure love of life at every stage of her 78 years. Each birthday, she declared her new age “a wonderful age to be,” each coming year “the best year yet.” She accomplished many things and was rightfully proud of her successes as a musician, teacher, and speaker, but at the end of the day she was simply adored for being her wonderful self–the best mom, the proudest grandma, the most loving wife, and an ardently loyal friend, teacher, and mentor to countless people. Linda was born March 17, 1947 to Marjorie and Harold Wilhite. She was born on her grandmother’s birthday, with whom she shared a special bond. The third of six children, she spent four formative years in Kenya and spent the rest of her life sharing tales of her adventures growing up there. Her family moved back to the States when Linda was eight. Linda often recalled the monumental change of having her mom as her teacher for her first few grades and then entering public school in Newberg and then Eugene. Linda thrived as an undergraduate at George Fox College (now University), playing basketball, serving as Student Body Secretary, and being named Senior Woman of the Year in 1969. Linda majored in Psychology and Sociology, with a minor in Music, then earned her Masters of Curriculum and Instruction from University of Oregon. She traveled to Europe and lived in Virginia before moving back to Newberg to marry the love of her life, Marvin Lynn Walker, at Newberg Friends Church on July 29, 1972. Marvin and Linda shared 52 beautiful years on the 36-acre hazelnut farm where Marvin grew up. They welcomed son Alex Adrien in 1974, daughter Chanda Renee in 1977, and daughter Kayla Jolene in 1979. Linda loved a lot of things, including thrift shopping, reading C.S. Lewis and true crime novels, watching “Jeopardy,” and breakfast with friends. She welcomed a good political debate and loved to compete. She was a gifted pianist and a ruthless opponent in Monopoly. A gifted teacher, Linda taught 5th grade in Roseburg, Lorane, and Brooks, OR, and 6th grade in Richmond, VA. She taught music at C.S. Lewis School, Amity public schools, St. Paul Lutheran School, Western Mennonite School, and others. She directed kids’ plays and musicals at Newberg Friends and North Valley Friends Churches and was a much-loved accompanist at Northwest Children’s Theatre. She loved children and touched thousands of lives as a Sunday School teacher, substitute teacher, piano instructor, and accompanist. She served as the music minister at Mountain Home United Methodist Church for several years, leading the choir and directing special programs for Easter and Christmas. For the past few years, she and Marvin ministered to the Country Meadows Village Retirement Community each Sunday. She invested deeply in the lives of the congregants, offering encouragement, music, and a weekly message until the very end of her life. Linda was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2008. She was adamantly against being defined by her diagnosis, and she continued to play the piano, perform, and teach. She knew all of her nurses by name and was beloved by her oncology team, remaining the life of the party wherever that particular party might be. In recent years, Linda and Marvin became avid members of Toastmasters International. Linda served as immediate past president, won multiple speaking awards, and was honored in absentia this past May at the district competition where she was slated to compete as an Evaluator. Ever the teacher, this was a category in which she shone. Linda loved to write and was a gifted storyteller. She was known for sending handwritten cards and notes of encouragement to people in her life. She loved playing the accordion and transposing hymns to fit the occasion. She was a faithful member of the same Sunday School class at Newberg Friends Church for over 40 years. She loved her grandchildren deeply who could do no wrong in her eyes. On April 17, 2025, Linda passed away peacefully, surrounded by her family in the home that she loved. She stepped into the loving arms of her mother, father, brother Doug, and beloved niece Janet who all preceded her in death. Linda’s legacy lives on in her loved ones: husband Marvin; children Alex Walker, Chanda Hall, Kayla Walker Edin; sons-in-law Brent Hall and Keven Edin; and seven grandchildren Samuel David, Joel Reed, and Sadie Shalom; Lucy Amielia and Cordelia Mae; Gabriel Scott and Eliot Calvin. She is survived by a large extended family, including siblings Steven Wilhite, Donna Comfort, Marilyn Olson, and Roger Wilhite, cherished sisters-in-law Helen Hampton, Nancy Almeda Wilhite, Nancy Mathias Wilhite, and Wendy Wilhite, and adored nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews, in-laws, cousins, aunt, and goddaughter. Linda asked that her memorial service be “lit up with beauty” and an abundance of flowers. Memorial donations in her honor may be made to Twin Rocks Friends Camp, where she spent so many happy times. Linda’s memorial service will take place on June 14, 2025 at 10 am at Newberg Friends Church. Funeral arrangements are being handled by Attrell’s.

Linda Lucille Walker

March 17, 1947 - April 17, 2025