Linda Walling

Linda Walling,71, Shawnee, Kansas, passed away February 25, 2019, after a long illness. She was born January 25, 1948, in Joplin, Missouri.

Early in life Linda learned the value of hard and honest work through working as a sales clerk and telephone operator. She was also employed for 35 years in Human Resources for several Gas & Oil Companies in Texas.  She is survived by her husband of 23 years, Dale.

Linda was an active church member long before she married a minister.  Following Dale in his work she enjoyed going to new churches and meeting people, saying, “Every time we begin with a new congregation, our family just gets bigger.”

In addition to living in Missouri, California, Texas and Kansas, Linda enjoyed traveling and cruising, having visited Rome, Paris, Barcelona, Hawaii, Alaska, Nova Scotia, Canada, Caribbean and many other places.  She loved dogs, raised shelties for many years, volunteered at the SPCA and, in recent years, adopted senior-dogs that often struggled to find loving homes.  Linda learned how to scuba dive, enjoyed organizing family pictures, cooking and good conversations.

Linda will be remembered for the spunk she showed in her daily life and the true grit she exemplified as she battled multiple myeloma and breast cancer.  She could liven up a room with her playful banter, had deep love for people, pets and animals alike and would argue with you about anything.  A wonderful wife, mother, grandmother and friend, she was truly a strong and remarkable woman who will be greatly missed.

Linda is preceded in death by her parents, Kenneth and Gloria (Marchant) Dinwiddie.

In addition to her husband, Linda is survived by four sons:  Brian Davis and his wife, Virginia; Jason Davis and his partner, Brendan; Max Walling and Kristina; Sam Walling and Kayla; a brother, Kenneth Dinwiddie; an aunt, Margie Fields; and 2 beautiful granddaughters, Jordan and Jennifer Davis.  Linda would also want mentioned her beloved rescued-Chihuahua named Ladybug as well as her two beagle-grand-dogs, Baily and Cooper.  There are so many other family members and friends Linda loved and cherished.

A Celebration of Life will be held Saturday, March 23 at Johnson County Funeral Home, 11200 Metcalf, Overland Park, KS, with Visitation at 10 AM and Services at 11 AM.  A private family graveside service will follow.

Memorial contributions may be sent to the Great Plains SPCA, 5424 Antioch Drive, Merriam, Kansas 66202 (or any local SPCA), and the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation, P.O. Box 414238, Boston, MA 02241-4238