Linda Luella Gardner

Linda Luella Gardner, age 73, of North Olmstead, Ohio passed away on Saturday, April 2, 2022, at the O-Neill’s Nursing Home in Fairview Park, Ohio, following a very lengthy battle with cancer. She was born March 7, 1949, in Cleveland, Ohio, to Wilmer (Bill) and L. Marion (Flicker) Gardner, who preceded her in death. Her brother Stuart (Geralyn), nephew Michael (Ashley), nieces Michele and Monica, great nieces Layla and Ella, and Cousins survive her.

Linda’s life was music. From the age of six, she started playing piano. She graduated from Lakewood High School in 1967, where she was active in playing piano and French horn in the orchestra and marching band.

She won a scholarship in French horn from Baldwin Wallace College, where she doubled majored in French horn and Pipe Organ. She graduated from Baldwin Wallace College with a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education in 1971. Linda taught music for 30 years in the Cleveland Public Schools, retiring in 2001. During summers, and in 1976, Linda took a year leave of absence, attending the University of Michigan, earning a Master’s Degree in Pipe Organ.

Linda returned to Cleveland in the fall of 1977 to resume teaching music and resumed a career playing the organ Sundays at Westlake Methodist Church, continuing with Berea Methodist Church, and most recently the Episcopal Church of the Ascension in Lakewood, Ohio, until her illness.  She started a Brass music group, and she also gave a noonday organ concert on Tuesdays.  While playing the pipe organ for over 52 years. She was active in playing the French horn for 25 years in Lorain County Community College Orchestra, and in the summer, she played with the Strongsville Community Band. She formed a Brass Quartet, which played for free at churches, and at the Strongsville Fall Fair.  She played for many weddings and funerals. Linda was a member of the Cleveland Chapter American Guild of Organist’s, and for several years she wrote in the newsletter for AGO.  Linda was a lifelong resident of the Cleveland area. She was a fervent Cleveland Indians fan, starting when the Indians would distribute free tickets to the season opener to straight A students in the Cleveland area schools.  In her spare time, she enjoyed reading a good book, and crocheting many afghan blankets for friends and family.  May heaven have a pipe organ and French horn so she may continue to play.

Linda Gardner – a devoted and caring daughter, a loving sister, aunt, great-aunt, and a gifted and accomplished musician and teacher.

Friends will be received Friday, April 8, 2022, from 4-6pm at Foos and Foos Funeral Service, 151 Yorkshire Place, Bellevue, OH. Additional calling hours will be from 10am until a funeral service begins at 11am on Saturday at Church of the Ascension, 13216 Detroit Ave, Lakewood, OH 44107. Graveside services will be held at 1:45pm at York Chapel Cemetery, Bellevue.

The family requests that in lieu of flowers; make donations to the American Cancer Society.

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