Linda Lee (McDonald) Martin, Â passed away on Tuesday, April 26, 2005, following a nine-year battle with cancer. Martin was born in Detroit, Michigan at Mt. Carmel Hospital on May 1, 1943. She is survived by her best friend and husband, Dale F. Martin; her parents, Ellen Isabell, nee Case, and Allan Duane McDonald; her brother Ronald; her sister, Kathryn; her six children; Christopher, Scott, Jeffrey, Daniel, Bradley and Melanie; and 14 grandchildren. Linda’s formative years were spent living on her family farm in Bad Axe, Michigan.
Linda attended Bad Axe High School and graduated with the Class of 1960. She received her Bachelor of Arts in Secondary Teaching and a Master of Arts in Counseling from Central Michigan University. Following college, Linda worked at the Bay City Michigan schools for 28 years as a home economics teacher and counselor at McAlear-Sawden Middle School, an assistant principal at T.L. Handy High School, and a principal at Western Intermediate School.
Linda left Bay City for a middle school principalship in South Lyon, Michigan and then moved to Wilmington, North Carolina and served as a counselor in the New Brunswick County schools. After her husband was named Superintendent of Schools with Downers Grove Grade School District 58 in 1998, the couple settled in Downers Grove, Illinois. A memorial service has been planned to honor Linda’s life at 11 a.m., Saturday, April 30, 2005, at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, 4501 Main Street in Downers Grove. A second memorial service is being planned in Michigan.
In lieu of flowers, contributions to the Linda Martin Helping Hands Scholarship through the Education Foundation of Downers Grove District 58 would be appreciated. Donations to the Linda Martin Helping Hands Scholarship can be made to the foundation care of the District 58 Office of Community Relations, attention Kristine Liptrot, at 1860 63rd Street, Downers Grove, IL 60516.
