Linda Burgess

Linda L. Burgess, 75, passed away on Sunday, December 17, 2023, after a battle with stomach cancer. Linda was born in Portsmouth, Ohio, on June 9, 1948, to Thelma and Donald McCowen. After Linda's father passed away, her mother married Raymond Bihl, who raised Linda and her twin sister Donna as his own, alongside his two daughters Ann and Christine. Linda married Lawrence Burgess on December 18, 1971, and spent the next 52 years by his side, enjoying the beach, supporting the Buckeyes, and socializing with the "Civic Club." Linda was privileged to fulfill her dream of parenthood by adopting Jeremy as an infant and, later, Sara as a toddler. She worked as a librarian for the Lancaster City School District. She was loved by the many students who frequented the library and was never hesitant to meet their needs, whether it was by checking out books, donating lunch money, or teaching them to drive. After she retired, she became a reference librarian for Wagnalls Memorial Library in Lithopolis, Ohio. A Parkinson's patient for around 15 years, Linda made it her mission to learn about exercise and movement in Parkinson's Disease and share that information with others. Perhaps her most cherished work, however, was in her role as Mimi to her three grandchildren: Connor, Hannah, and Amelia.

Linda is survived by her husband, Lawrence Burgess, son Jeremy (Jennifer) Burgess, daughter Sara Burgess, sisters Donna (Tim) Conley, Ann (Roger) Holbrook, and Christine (John) Danner, grandchildren Connor, Hannah, and Amelia Burgess, and countless other family and friends.

A memorial service to celebrate Linda's life will be held on Thursday, December 21 at 2:00 PM at the Presbyterian Church of Wilmington, 840 Timber Glen Dr., Wilmington, Ohio.