Linda Rose Easterly

A celebration of life and memorial service for Linda Rose Easterly will be held at Decatur's Annunciation of the Lord Catholic Church on Monday, November 05, 2012 at 5:00 p.m. Visitation with the family will begin at 4:00 p.m. Reverend Raymond Remke will officiate. A subsequent Funeral Mass will be held in Linda's hometown at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, November 13, 2012 at St. Peter Catholic Church, 6161 Chambersburg Rd., Huber Heights, OH. Reverend Earl Simone will officiate. The family will greet friends one hour prior to this service. Linda's final resting place will be at Pleasant Grove Memorial Park, just south of her husband Glenn's hometown of Carbondale, IL. Linda, beloved wife of Glenn, who died peacefully at home on October 31, 2012, was born on March 22, 1958 in Dayton, OH to loving parents Richard and Mary (Schmid) Wiggenhorn. She grew up and attended St Peter School in Huber Heights, OH, and was a proud graduate of Wayne High School's class of 1976. She was involved in many school activities, but she especially loved her participation in Wayne's marching band and various music programs. Linda subsequently attended and graduated from Wright State University with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree. Linda also received masters' degrees from both Georgia College & State University and from Mercer University. Nursing was her calling and passion throughout most of her professional career. Nursing was an ideal choice for Linda because it blended so well with her nurturing, caring, and helpful personality. After a brief stint as a pediatric nurse in Columbus, OH, Linda joined the Nursing Corps of the US Air Force. While at her first duty station, Robins AFB, GA, she met and married her husband Glenn. She subsequently transferred from the nursing career field and became an Air Force line officer, serving in various capacities as an administrative officer. After serving on active duty for seven years she was honorably discharged from the Air Force as a captain, and followed her husband, also an Air Force officer, to several more assignment locations. Linda subsequently returned to the nursing career field as a manager at a hospital in Montgomery, AL. Following that she served multiple times as the chief nursing officer of various hospitals, including her last position as the Chief Nursing Officer of Parkway Medical Center in Decatur, AL. At each location Linda became very active in her local community and served on many charitable boards and in many service organizations. Among those included service as a Rotary Club President, and as a Chamber of Commerce Chairman. Linda was also very active in various professional nursing and health organizations including her service as President of the Georgia Nursing Association, as a member of the Georgia Board of Nursing, and as a member of the American Nursing Association's PAC Committee. Linda was recognized for her contributions to the nursing profession by being selected as Georgia's Nurse of the Year, and as a Wright State University School of Nursing Alumni of the Year. By far Linda's most important legacy, however, is that she mattered and was loved by so many people whose lives were touched by her bright, nurturing spirit. Survivors include her husband Glenn, step-daughter Elizabeth (Adam) Auden, step grand daughter Katie Auden, parents Richard and Mary Wiggenhorn, sister Jan (Bob) Wedig, brothers John (Luann), Michael , and David (Tammy). The family would like to especially thank Linda's primary physicians Dr. Akram Haggag, Dr. Scott Harris and Dr. Sammy Becdach and their respective nurses and staff members who rendered her outstanding and compassionate medical care. The family is also deeply indebted to the wonderful Hospice of the Valley team, especially Katie Cameron and Chatan Roberson, who lovingly helped her live out the remainder of her life in grace and dignity. In lieu of flowers the family requests that donations be made to Hospice of the Valley (240 Johnson St, P.O. Box 2745, Decatur, AL 35602), or The Annunciation of the Lord Catholic Church (3910 Spring Ave SW, Decatur, AL 35603).

Linda Rose Easterly

March 22, 1958 - October 31, 2012