Linda Jeanne Schmidt Rhodes

Rhodes, Linda S., 62, of Winter Park, passed away on January 13, 2006. She was born on October 23, 1943 in Neptune, NJ to Gus and Nancy Schmidt. She moved to Winter Park at age nine, and graduated from Winter Park High School and Rollins College. After completing postgraduate work in medical technology at Duke University, Linda married Richard Rhodes and devoted herself to raising their three children. She was preceded in death by her beloved father. She is survived by a son, Spencer Rhodes of Winter Park; two daughters, Judith Smeller of Winter Park and Jennifer Rhodes of New York City; three cherished grandchildren, Dylan, Tristan and Juliet; her mother, Nancy Burke; a brother, Fred Schmidt; a sister, Judy Kyle; and many other loving family members. A funeral service will be held Thursday, January 19, 2006, at 3PM at All Saints Episcopal Church. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Amyloidosis Research Foundation, 4174 Meyers Ave., Waterford, MI 48329, www.amyloidosisresearchfoundation.org. Carey Hand Cox- Parker Funeral Home, is entrusted with arrangements.

Linda Schmidt (Rhodes) died Friday, January 13, 2006, after her long battle with Amyloidosis. Linda was such an active part of our class during our years at school and for 35 years she kept the records of the class and got in touch with classmates to attend reunions. She embodied the spirit of our class. Many members got to know Linda much better after graduation. She reveled in the accomplishments of our classmates. (provided by Ann "Stevie" Spaulding - 1/14/2006)
Family and friends gathered for Celebration of Life services at All Saint's Episcopal Church in Winter Park in which Holy Communion was presented to those who wished to participate. High school classmates Jack Billingham, Frank Ferguson, Robert Finfrock, Fred Good, Chandler Muller, Patrick Phillips and Dewey Ramsby served as Pall Bearers. Nancy Temple Jerome sang solo during the service. A reception was held at the Mary Martha Parlor immediately following the service .
Noticed at the reception were JoAnn Ross and her husband, Bob Giannini ('58) who flew in from Indiana, Cheney Mason, Bill Schwartz, Lynn Nidy, Chip Emerson ('60), George Sprinkle ('59), Lee Maynard ('59), Max Morris, Linda Bair, Marcia Gruber, Nancy Ann Wrenn, Mary Phillips, Anne Laing, Fran Ussery, Heather Marwick, Ann "Stevie" Spaulding, Charlene McKay, Carol Cubbedge, Sandra Cash, Tom Bledsoe, John Cash, Betsy Cragg ('62), Dianna Todd and others.

Note:

Since the creation of the alumni web site on July 1, 2001 we have all shared the passing of several of our classmates. This particular type of sharing was not what any of us wanted to be a part of -- just the opposite; we created the alumni web site in the hope of drawing classmates together after, in many cases, decades of separation brought about by college, jobs, military experiences, life's every-day trials, and so much more.

Over the recent years many classmates have been reunited with one another via the internet and some have made special trips to visit long-lost playmates and childhood friends. Some have shared their stories with us and we have laughed and cried at some of the stories we have heard. Mini reunions have been held... pictures shared on the alumni web site.

Linda was, in this writer's opinion, one person who genuinely cared about the well-being of her childhood friends. She wanted to know the why's and the where-for's of those who seemed to disappear off the ends of the earth. Linda worked harder than anyone could imagine to pull classmates together over almost 4 decades of class reunions. She worked for months in preparation of each event and was a gracious hostess at all events.

Linda worked with the alumni web site committee by sharing her notes gathered over the years and in doing this Mary Phillips and Bill Ronay have been able to get much needed 'leads' in finding missing classmates. We thank you, Linda... we all thank you... and because of Linda's enthusiasm and caring there will be yet another class reunion held in April, 2006 -- the 45th class reunion for the Class of 1961 -- with invitations sent out to over 250 classmates. All but a few classmates have been found or accounted for at this time.

Linda will be greatly missed by her family AND her lifelong friends.

Anne Laing Ryder, Classmate & Webmistress