Linda Parkhurst joined her husband, Ralph, in heaven on June 17, 2011. Linda was born on January 17, 1927 on a farm 10 miles north of Salem to Albert Louis Girod and Clara Vinet Wiley Girod. She attended rural schools through the 8th grade, Parrish Jr. High School in the 9th grade, Salem High School (now North Salem H.S.) through the 11th grade. The family moved to Cornelius, Ore., and she graduated from Hillsboro High School. She attended Oregon State College and graduated from Oregon College of Education in Monmouth, in 1950, majoring in Elementary Education.

Linda and Ralph Earnest Parkhurst were married November 23, 1949, in Salem, Ore. She taught two years at Keizer Elementary School. They moved to Albany in 1951 where she taught at Liberty Grade School. She then became Principal at Dever-Conner Grade School. Ralph and Linda moved to Lebanon in 1961 where she taught a number of years in Lebanon Junior H.S. She later worked as a substitute teacher in the Lebanon area until she retired from teaching. Linda joined Ralph in his self-employed Parkhurst Paint Company. They painted many homes in the Willamette Valley through the years. They not only painted professionally, but they very unselfishly gave of their time to help family members, Southside Church of Christ, relatives, and friends with their painting needs as well as personal needs. They built their dream home in Yachats, Ore., which overlooked the ocean, living there for 24 years. They continued their painting business for many years in Yachats until a few years prior to Ralph's passing on Jan. 13, 1999. Linda returned to Albany in 2004 to be closer to her family.

Church was always an important part of Ralph's and Linda's lives. They were charter member of Eastside Christian Church in Albany, Ore. Linda enjoyed traveling and visited every state including Alaska and Hawaii over the yeas. Linda was very active in many organizations including Albany Timber Carnival Court head chaperone for two years, President of Albany Junior Women's Club, officer of Extension units and Eastern Star, Lebanon President of B.P.W., Oregon State Women's Club, also a member of Sons and Daughters of Oregon Pioneers and Daughters of American Revolution.

Linda was a decedent of General William Richardson Davie, one of the framers of the Constitution and the founder of University of North Carolina. She was also descended from Allen Jones Davie II, who came in 1842 with the first wagon train bearing women and children to Oregon.

Linda was preceded in death by her husband Ralph. She is survived by her sister Anne and Scott Foster of Portland; son Steve Parkhurst and girlfriend Bunny Mathis of Shedd; daughter Debbie and Steve Prouty of Albany; daughter Trish and Casey Cole of Albany; five grandchildren; and several great-grandchildren.

A funeral service will be at 11 a.m., Thursday, June 23 at Southside Church of Christ, 196 S Airport Rd, Lebanon. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to Evergreen Hospice or Southside Church of Christ in care of the funeral home.