Linda Lou Holmes, 73, of Urbana, passed away at 4:27 P.M., on Monday, September 15, 2014 at her home surrounded by her husband, children, and grandson, Chris. She had a brief but intense battle against the ravages of cancer.

A memorial gathering and service will be held on Saturday, October 18, 2014 from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM, at St. Matthew's Lutheran Church, Urbana.

Linda was born on June 4, 1941 in Kalamazoo, Michigan, to parents Lyle and Hazel (Pennels) Dalenberg. They preceded her in death. On September 14, 1963 Linda married Kenneth R. Holmes in Kalamazoo. He survives. Also surviving are their four children; Denise Holmes of Fife Lake, MI, Kari (Nirmal) Singh of Milton, FL, Kenneth (Kristina) Holmes Jr. of Lewis Center, OH, Kevin (Joy) Holmes of Hinsdale, IL; and eight grandchildren, Savana Holmes, Christopher Holmes-Singh, Jazmyn Singh, Matthew Singh, Madilyn Holmes, Lilia Holmes, Axl Holmes, Ellison Holmes, and one brother, David (Minnie) Dalenberg of Niceville, FL.

Linda graduated from Kalamazoo Central High School in 1959. She attended Western Michigan University, Mexico City College, Ohio State University and Michigan State University. At MSU, she earned her Bachelor's degree (Social Work), Master's degree (Educational Psychology) and her PhD in 1973 (Higher Education, College of Education). She was a member of Omega Chi Gamma and Sigma Alpha Sigma. She worked as the Assistant Director of the School of Medical Technology at Michigan State all the while working on her graduate degrees, putting her husband through graduate school and raising her children. After she and her family moved to Urbana, she also worked for a time at the Cunningham Children's Home and volunteered her time at the Country Palette, in Urbana.

Linda liked spending her summers at their home in Fife Lake, Michigan. She was an excellent painter, cross-stitcher, seamstress and knitter. She would spend countless hours making special clothes, decorated blankets and outfits for her grandchildren. These often included their holiday outfits for Halloween and Christmas. She also was a great cook and always made sure her family was well fed. Linda enjoyed peaceful times while listening to country music, Jimmy Buffet, and the occasional glass of wine (to wash down the popcorn...). Most importantly she loved spending time with her family, especially her grandkids. Her most notorious trait was that she always put everyone else's interests before her own.

Memorial Contributions in Linda's name may be made to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF), or to Cunningham Children's Home.