Hope Elaine Linton

Hope was born August 5, 1918, the only child of Ernest and Elizabeth (Bess) Jane Darling Harvey in Meadville, MO. At an early age the family moved to Chillicothe, MO where Hope spent her childhood and youth. She graduated from Chillicothe High School in 1936, attended Fredonia State College, Fredonia, NY and received her B.S. degree in Music Education from Northeast Missouri State College, Kirksville, MO. Her early teaching career included positions in Memphis, MO and Fredonia, NY. A sabbatical between sophomore and junior year of college took her to San Germán, Puerto Rico where she tutored four American children in their regular school subjects and also gave piano lessons and served as accompanist for the choir of the Polytechnic Institute of San Germán.

On March 24, 1946, she married Stanley S. Linton, a high school friend. Stan’s career as Professor of Music Education and Choral Director began with a one-year position at Washington State College in Ellensburg, WA, followed by five years at the Wisconsin State College, Whitewater, WI. In 1952 they moved to Oshkosh, WI where Stan continued his teaching career at UW-Oshkosh.

During these years of raising a family, Hope also continued her own music career, which included directing the First Presbyterian Church Choir, the Cecilian Singers, and the first women’s choir at UW-Oshkosh. In addition, she taught private voice at UW-Oshkosh and Music Theory at UW-Extension at Fond du Lac, WI. Hope was well-known as an accompanist and as a choral director, serving many groups and individuals.

As a member of First Congregational Church, Hope served in many capacities, especially the Women’s Fellowship, the choir, and various boards and committees, as well as one year as Church Moderator.

Hope served as a Red Cross volunteer for 20 years and was also a member of Chapter BA of the P.E.O. Sisterhood.

As a result of Stan’s extended chronic illness, and feeling the need of support of other caregivers, Hope co-founded, along with Norma Gruenwald, a caregiver’s group called Mainstay, which is associated with a national organization, Well Spouse.

Ten years after Stan’s death in 1992, Hope moved to a condo in Evergreen Retirement Community. Once more she became active in her new community, serving as Treasurer, Vice-President, and President of the Evergreen Village Council and the Executive Committee of the Evergreen Residents Council. Health impairment necessitated a move into an apartment in Evergreen Manor in 2010 where she continued to enjoy life into her nineties, participating in numerous activities at Evergreen, including her favorite pastimes, bridge, crossword puzzles, and politics. In May of 2022 she moved into the home of her daughter, Lynelle and husband, Chris, where she resided and was cared for until her passing on May 23, 2023.

Hope was preceded in death by her husband Stan, her parents, brother-in-law S. Harold Linton and his wife, Benita Linton. Survivors include one daughter, Lynelle Johns (Christopher) of Appleton, WI; two sons, Patrick (Jean) of Cheboygan, MI, and Mark (Connie) of The Villages, FL. Hope is further survived by six granddaughters: Lesley (Mark) Schmidt of Menomonee Falls, WI; Erin (Dan) Hoffman of New Berlin, WI; Kelly Rowland of Neenah, WI; Sara Linton of Waimea, HI; Melissa (Dan) Rodriguez of Land O Lakes, FL; Amy (Dal) Zemp of UT; and one grandson, Christopher (Nicole) Linton of Jacksonville, FL. Hope’s eight great-grandchildren are Eileen, Sarah, and Madelynn Schmidt, Ian and Declan Hoffman, Aiden and Liam Linton, and Caleb Rodriguez.

A funeral service will be held at 11:00 am on Tuesday, May 30, 2023, at First Congregational Church, 137 Algoma Boulevard, Oshkosh, WI with the Rev. Nancy Taylor officiating. Entombment will take place at Lake View Memorial Park.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the P. E.O. Sisterhood Chapter B.A., 1263 Merritt Avenue, Oshkosh, WI 54901 or to the Oshkosh Area Community Foundation, 230 Ohio Street #100, Oshkosh, WI 54902.