Linda Ruth Tippett

Linda Ruth Tippett, 87, of Sylvania, died on September 11, 2015. A native of Lancaster, OH, Linda was a 1950 graduate of Ohio State University’s School of Journalism where she met her future husband, Jim, who preceded her in death in 2000. Married in 1950, she and Jim moved to Toledo where he joined his father at The Toledo Printing Company – ultimately joining Owens-Illinois – and she went to work for WTOL-Radio as receptionist, then continuity editor. With the birth of their first child, Ann, in 1954, Linda became a stay-at-home mom as three more children arrived, but kept active in her church, Pilgrim United Church of Christ, and Deveaux School where she did puppet shows as the Story Lady in the school library. In the early 1970’s she joined the staff of Channel 30 – WGTE – as a continuity writer during the early years of the station as it was getting established. After several years she left to resume homemaking, but immersed herself in many volunteer activities – editing and/or contributing to newsletters for The Toledo Symphony League, Toledo Hospital Auxiliary, Flower Hospital, the Red Cross, and Pilgrim Church, where she also served as moderator of the congregation. She recorded books for The Sight Center, performed “Kids on the Block” puppet shows for The Ability Center, delivered Mobile Meals (for over 35 years), and conducted sing-a-longs at Fairview Manor Nursing Center. She also was a founding member and president of the local chapter of Women in Communications, Inc. She wrote and published several series of Lenten plays, which were performed in churches in Toledo and across the country. She also published a book, “Attitude Adjustments,” which included humorous skits and meditations. In 1997 she became a staff writer for Mature Living Magazine in Toledo, writing two or three articles a month. Beginning in 2001, she represented the magazine in many speaking engagements to senior groups in the Toledo area, giving a humorous twist to the aspects of aging. Music and theater were always a big part of her life from the time she began piano and vocal lessons in elementary school and acted in school productions. She loved dramas and musical theater, attended symphony concerts through the years and sang in the Toledo Choral Society, church choirs, and the Eleanor Kahle Senior Center Choir. She was also a longtime member of the Northwest Ohio Christian Writers, serving as president for five years, and the Northwest Ohio Writers Forum. After leaving Pilgrim Church, she and her husband, Jim, joined Epworth United Methodist Church where she became active in choir, United Methodist Women, and various outreach activities. She was also a member of Delta Gamma Sorority and P.E.O. Sisterhood. In later years she volunteered as a reading tutor in Sylvania elementary schools. While her children and grandchildren were her greatest joy, she also was an avid reader (loved mysteries), traveler, cross-stitcher; and she was never without one or two cats around her. Linda is survived by daughter, Ann Tippett; son-in-law, Mike Doolin of Rochester, NY; son, Jack of Chicago, IL; son, David and daughter-in-law, Jill of Gibsonburg, OH; son, Michael and daughter-in-law, Cindy, and granddaughters Elizabeth Tippett of Forest Hills, NY, Hannah, and Rachel Tippett, of Maumee, OH; and sister-in-law Dorothy Callander, of Kalamazoo, MI. Survivors also include step-granddaughters, Maura Seever, of Syracuse, NY; Kelly Doolin and Erin Doolin, both of Richmond, VA; Shannon Doolin of Baltimore, MD, and special friend and companion, Jim Richard, of Toledo. Friends are invited to visit on Friday from 2-7 p.m. in the Walker Funeral Home, 5155 Sylvania Ave. (west of Corey Rd.). Memorial services will be held at 9:30 a.m., Saturday, September 19, 2015 at Epworth United Methodist Church, 4855 W. Central Ave., Toledo. Interment will be private at Toledo Memorial Park. Any tributes should be directed to Mobile Meals, The Sight Center, or Epworth United Methodist Church.