Obituary for Lorinda Jane "Linda" Dodge
Lorinda Jane (“Linda”) Mathew Dodge, age 85, passed away Feb. 2, 2021, at Sunrise Senior Living Center in Des Peres, Missouri. Visitation 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. with a memorial service to follow at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, June 19, 2021 at Bruce Funeral Home, 106 S. Center Gardner, Kansas 66030. Inurnment at Antioch Cemetery in Miami County, Kansas. Memorial contributions may be made to St. Louis Audubon Society https://stlouisaudubon.org/donate/, Burroughs Audubon Society of Greater Kansas City https://burroughs.org/home/membership-and-support/, ASPCA https://www.aspca.org/ways-to-give, or Rail-to-trails Conservancy https://www.railstotrails.org/support-us/donor-info/. Condolences may be left at www.brucefuneralhome.com. Arrangements: Bruce Funeral Home, Gardner, KS (913) 856-7111.
Linda was born July 18, 1935, in Oskaloosa, Iowa, to Paul Jacob Mathew and Jane Kauffman Mathew. She attended Christian College (now Columbia College) in Columbia, Missouri, and later the University of Missouri-Columbia, where she met her husband, Kirk McLellan Dodge. They were married 57 years before his death in 2015.
At the University of Missouri, Linda earned a bachelor’s in education and pursued graduate studies. She was a member of Delta Gamma sorority as well as several honorary societies. She taught elementary school in Columbia for several years. She and Kirk raised two children and lived in Jefferson City, Missouri; Overland Park, Kansas; and rural Gardner, Kansas. They enjoyed a second home in Tucson, Arizona, for many years.
Linda was a nature lover and avid birdwatcher. She was involved in music, both vocal and instrumental, for much of her life. She and Kirk enjoyed traveling and bicycling and were involved in the Kansas City and Olathe running communities for more than 20 years. Linda qualified for and competed in the National Senior Olympics in both running and cycling events. She was a member of PEO and Gardner Presbyterian Church.
She is survived by her son Kevin (Carolina) of Accident, Maryland; daughter Lori Dodge Rose (Bob) of Des Peres, Missouri; and grandchildren Rhiannon Dodge and Jenna, Adam and Celia Rose; as well as nieces and nephews. In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by her parents and one brother, Jim Mathew.
Linda was born July 18, 1935, in Oskaloosa, Iowa, to Paul Jacob Mathew and Jane Kauffman Mathew. She attended Christian College (now Columbia College) in Columbia, Missouri, and later the University of Missouri-Columbia, where she met her husband, Kirk McLellan Dodge. They were married 57 years before his death in 2015.
At the University of Missouri, Linda earned a bachelor’s in education and pursued graduate studies. She was a member of Delta Gamma sorority as well as several honorary societies. She taught elementary school in Columbia for several years. She and Kirk raised two children and lived in Jefferson City, Missouri; Overland Park, Kansas; and rural Gardner, Kansas. They enjoyed a second home in Tucson, Arizona, for many years.
Linda was a nature lover and avid birdwatcher. She was involved in music, both vocal and instrumental, for much of her life. She and Kirk enjoyed traveling and bicycling and were involved in the Kansas City and Olathe running communities for more than 20 years. Linda qualified for and competed in the National Senior Olympics in both running and cycling events. She was a member of PEO and Gardner Presbyterian Church.
She is survived by her son Kevin (Carolina) of Accident, Maryland; daughter Lori Dodge Rose (Bob) of Des Peres, Missouri; and grandchildren Rhiannon Dodge and Jenna, Adam and Celia Rose; as well as nieces and nephews. In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by her parents and one brother, Jim Mathew.