Linda Waldon

Linda Waldon of Cedar Falls, Iowa died on Wednesday evening, November 4 ^th , with her family by her side. She was born on December 13th, 1945 in Chicago, Illinois, daughter of Ernest and Audra Gilliam. She graduated from Proviso West High School in Chicago in 1963. Linda attended Northern Illinois University in Dekalb, Illinois for a year before moving to Dubuque Iowa, where she attended the University of Dubuque, graduating with a BA degree in Teaching and a double major in History and English. She then moved to Cedar Falls, Iowa and attended the University of Northern Iowa, where she earned her Master's Degree in English.

Linda taught school at Jefferson Junior High School in Dubuque for about five years before moving to Cedar Falls, Iowa. She taught English, literature, and Leadership and Advance Placement classes at Waterloo West High School until her retirement in 2002. Linda was a member of the Waterloo Junior League, Green Scene, President of Rensselaer Russell House and a member of PEO. After retirement, Linda worked with Upper Iowa University student teacher program.  She served as the President of the Friends of the Waterloo-Cedar Falls Symphony and was a member on the Board of Directors.

Linda met her husband Gary Waldon in Dubuque on a blind date when he was on leave from the US Army. They dated for a few years and then married September 29th, 1979 at the First Congregational Church in Waterloo Iowa. They celebrated their 41st anniversary in September, 2020.  Linda is survived by her husband Gary Waldon of Cedar Falls, Iowa, one son Ryan Waldon (Beth Waldon) of Aplington Iowa, and two grandchildren, Emerson and Brayden. She is preceded in death by her parents, Ernie and Audra Gilliam of Dubuque Iowa, two brothers, Jim and Rich Gilliam of Chicago and two sisters, Carolyn Bumpus of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, and Betty Woolhouse of West Covina, California.

Linda was a loving and wonderful wife, a wonderful loving mother to her son and a dedicated teacher to her students that she lovingly taught over the years. She will be greatly missed by all who knew her.

Funeral services are being arranged by Dahl-Van Hove-Schoof Funeral Home. Private family graveside funeral services for Linda will be held at the Waterloo Memorial Park Cemetery.

Due to the Covid pandemic and safety of family and friends, a Celebration of Life will be held at a future date.  Memorials can be directed to the First Congregational Church in Waterloo, and because she loved cats, to the Cedar Bend Humane Society in Waterloo.