Obituaries : M. Linda Radcliffe

M. Linda Radcliffe

VINTON: M. Linda (Davis) Radcliffe, 64 of Vinton died Tuesday, May 25, 2010 at her home following a sudden illness. Funeral Services will be held at 10:30 AM, Friday, May 28, 2010 at the Vinton Presbyterian Church with Rev. Ronald Sumption officiating. Interment will be in Evergreen Cemetery in Vinton. Friends may call from 4 – 8 PM on Thursday at Phillips Funeral Home Chapel (212 East Sixth Street) and one hour prior to service time at the church on Friday. In lieu of flowers a Memorial Fund has been established in Linda’s name.

Mary Linda was born February 9, 1946 at Vinton to Burton M. and Mary Virginia (St. Clair) Davis. Linda graduated from Washington High School in 1964 and attended the American Institute of Business in Des Moines. On October 9, 1965 she married Tom Radcliffe at the Vinton Presbyterian Church, the couple later divorced. For over 35 years she worked as a Legal Secretary at the Law Offices of David E. Happel.

Linda was a member of the Vinton Presbyterian Church and the Izaac Walton League. She had a passion for swimming and the water, serving as past director of the Red Cross Swimming Education Program for many years, the Secretary of the Vinton Aquatic Club and served on the Vinton Parks and Recreation Board during the planning and construction of the new pool. She was also a founder and lifetime member of ACT I Community Theatre where she worked on countless productions and was instrumental in the founding of the Palace Theatre. Linda was a member of the Vinton Women’s Club and was named Woman of the Year. Linda was also dedicated to helping children in their time of need, serving as a foster mother for over 100 children. Linda would rarely tell people what the “M” in her name stood for, but her friends and those who loved her felt it was “Mama.”

She is survived by her daughter, Angie (Brad) Mullenix; her son, Joe Radcliffe; her foster son, George St. John; her foster daughter, Christina Ellwood; her father and step-mother, Burton (Geri) Davis; her grandchildren Bray and Marshall Mullenix, Georgia and Max Higgins, Josie Radcliffe and Brayden Ellwood all of Vinton.

Linda was preceded in death by her grandparents, Ivan and Elda Davis, Glenn and Jess St. Clair, her mother, Mary in 1981 and one infant brother.

You may leave online condolences for the family at: www.phillipsfuneralhomes.com.