From Sturgis, a small town in western Kentucky, and a 1967 graduate of Union County High School where she is remembered as a majorette in the marching band, Linda moved to Clarksville, TN with her husband, Dan, in 1972.
They would never imagine that this would be their home and community for the next forty-three years. Working in the mortgage lending profession, Linda would rise to Assistant Vice President of Mortgage Loans at First Federal Savings & Loan, the area’s premier local bank for many years. Linda and Dan’s son, John, was born not long after their move to Clarksville, and he was the joy of her life. He and his wife, Kadi, would give Dan and Linda two grandchildren, Ty and Ellie—both the gleam in Linda’s eyes, and the smile across her cheeks.
Linda passed away peacefully in her sleep on May 17th with her family at her bedside. Diagnosed over nineteen years ago with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), she was, as a friend nicknamed her, the Energizer Bunny, going and going, year in and year out, not allowing the disease to stifle her. She was, in a word, a trooper. It was only within the past few days that the disease won, and she was blessed with little suffering, and her family close.
An only child, Linda was preceded in death by her parents, Howard Lee Collins and Christine Blackburn Collins.
Viewing and memorial services will be held at Neal-Tarpley-Parchman Funeral Home in Clarksville, TN. Visitation will be from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m on Tuesday, May 19. Additional viewing will be held at 9 a.m. on Wednesday, May 20, with the funeral service beginning at 10 a.m. in the chapel. Rev. Will Campbell will preside over the service. Burial will be held at Sango Cemetery at a later date.
It was Linda’s wish that, in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the American Lung Association.
Arrangements entrusted to Neal-Tarpley-Parchman Funeral Home, 1510 Madison Street, Clarksville, TN 37040; (931) 645-6488. Online condolences may be made at www.neal-tarpley.com.