Linda K. Murray's Obituary
MURRAY, Linda K., age 76, of Waynesville, Ohio, passed away on Thursday, April 23, 2026, at her residence.
Linda dedicated over 45 years of her career to AT&T Telecommunications. Beginning her career in the earlier days of telecommunications, Linda developed specialized knowledge of the original plug-in switchboard systems used by telephone operators. As technology evolved, her understanding of those systems became a valuable asset, and she was often relied upon for her expertise in bridging older systems with modern advancements.
Linda was deeply rooted in her faith, first attending the St. John’s United Church of Christ in Dayton and later becoming active with Waynesville United Methodist Church. She was also actively involved in several local organizations, including the United Methodist Women’s Club, Book Club, Historic Preservation Board for the Village of Waynesville, and the Progressive Women’s Club in Waynesville.
Linda lived a life centered on service, creativity, and connection. She had a passion for quilting, knitting, and sewing, often creating meaningful items for church outreach, including baptismal and prayer blankets. She also enjoyed baking, especially homemade breads for church and family gatherings. She took great pride in restoring her 1901 home, carefully stripping and refinishing it back to its original beauty—often dedicating countless hours to ensure it was done right. Her devotion to her home renovation became one of her proudest accomplishments.
Linda had a love for travel, whether it was sailing the Caribbean with her husband as captain, visiting Europe, or traveling across the United States by RV. One of her favorite places was Anagada Island in the British Virgin Islands, making the trip more than once by sailboat—even though the journey itself could leave her feeling a bit uneasy, she always treasured her time on the island. She also had a special love for RV travel, where she could take her dogs along. She cherished all her dogs, especially Sheba, Ruskin, Jake, and Tiffin, as part of her daily life and travel.
Linda’s love for soaring became one of the defining parts of her life, not from the cockpit, but from the ground, where she made so much of it possible. She was a dedicated member of the Soaring Society of America and spent over 35 years immersed in the sport, traveling up to 12 weeks a year to support events and competitions across the country. While she would occasionally take a ride, Linda often joked, “the party is on the ground,” a reflection of her true passion for the people, organization, and community that surrounded soaring. She especially loved organizing events and contests within the soaring community, playing a key role in bringing people together and ensuring everything ran smoothly. A crowning achievement was bringing soaring’s 2012 FAI World Gliding Championships back to the United States after 21 years of it being held in other countries around the world. She traveled overseas at her own expense to build relationships and make it possible. She served as Contest Director and Contest Manager, among other positions. She was also a major contributor to the Transcontinental Glider Race, a cross-country glider race known as the “Return to Kitty Hawk,” which marked the 100 Years of Flight celebration and spanned from Los Angeles, California to Kitty Hawk, North Carolina. That historic event marked the first time since 1903 that a glider landed at the Kitty Hawk airfield—accomplished with her husband’s glider—and was a moment of great pride within the soaring community that Linda helped bring to life through her dedication and support. She received the Warren E. Eaton Memorial Trophy. Awarded to a person who has made an outstanding contribution to the art, sport, or science of soaring flight in the United States.
Linda was known for being highly organized, family-oriented, and community-minded. She had a caring nature, an outgoing and friendly personality, and a dry wit that often brought laughter to those around her. She was a natural planner who loved bringing people together, hosting gatherings, and fostering connections between family and friends. Family traditions were an important part of Linda’s life. She was often the organizer behind family events and parties, ensuring that loved ones could come together and create lasting memories. Christmas was especially meaningful to her, filled with decorating, parties, culminating with presents on Christmas morning.
Linda was preceded in death by her father, Creighton Kelly, mother, Esther Kelly, and her sister, Catherine Kelly. She is survived by her spouse of 32 years, John M.; her son, Jeff (Monika) Schiemann; her daughter, Tracey (Michael) Martinez; her sister, Debo (Rob) Amaranto; cousins, numerous extended family members, and many friends.
The family will receive friends from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Monday, May 4, 2026, at Stubbs-Conner Funeral Home, followed by a reception dinner at United Methodist Church in Waynesville. We encourage you to bring photos and stories to share with us all.
A brief visitation and Funeral services will be held at 12:00 p.m. on Tuesday, May 5, 2026, at St. John’s United Church of Christ in Dayton, with Pastor Adam Wirring officiating. Burial will follow at Polk Grove Cemetery.
Please join us after the burial for a luncheon reception at St. John’s, Linda was already planning her 80th birthday party, and she wanted to give us all a surprise from her.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to St. John’s United Church of Christ in Linda’s memory. Stubbs-Conner Funeral Home in Waynesville is serving the family. Condolences may be sent to the family at https://www.stubbsconner.com.
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