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Linda Merkle Obituary
Linda Milam Merkle of Decatur passed away March 4, 2024, at a residential hospice facility, where she had been a patient for the past several days. Linda was born in Bartlesville, Oklahoma, the daughter of the late John Max Milam and Lola Bess Goolsbay Milam. She received her bachelor's and master's degrees from the University of Texas at Austin.
From 1964-1989 Linda taught at Lakeside High School in DeKalb County, where she was the English Department Chair and sponsor of the yearbook. In 1989 she went to McNair High School serving as Assistant Principal for Instruction. She was beloved by students and fellow teachers. Her love of books was manifested through her never-ending acquisitions and membership in the prestigious McNair Book Group and various local book clubs.
Linda was active in the Lake Lanier Sailing Club, where she served as the first female Commodore in 1993. During the 1996 Olympic games in Atlanta, she was the Competition Manager for the 1996 Paralympic Yachting Competition. She went on to help organize and run paralympic sailing events at the Olympic games from 2000 through 2012, traveling to Sydney, Beijing, Athens, and London, making friends throughout the international paralympic sailing community.
Surviving Linda are her many friends from teaching and sailing; her communities at Westfield Square, Holbrook Senior Living, and Glenn Memorial United Methodist Church; as well as cousins in Colorado, Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas. The family wishes to thank the staff at Holbrook in Decatur for their care of Linda. Special gratitude goes to Karen Ahrens, her sailing sister faithful to the end.
Memorial services will be in the chapel at Glenn Memorial United Methodist Church, 1660 N. Decatur Road, Atlanta, Wednesday, April 24, 2024 at 2:30 PM. Please make memorial contributions in Linda's memory to Glenn Memorial or the charity of your choice, especially those that support families in need and the disabled.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for Linda Merkle
Karla Zanders Postma
May 24, 2025
Fond memories of having Ms. Merkle as my English teacher at LHS in the 80's. She had a true love of teaching and it made her an exceptional teacher. Looks like she had a wonderful life full of all the things she loved. May she sail on in eternity and I hope she knew how many young lives she made a positive impact on. LHS class of 1984.
William Sauser
April 15, 2025
A year may have passed but we still remember with gratitude our beloved Mrs. Merkle. What a great teacher she was! Bill Sauser, LHS `68.
David Ryan Harris Class Of `86
December 27, 2024
I´d tried to find Ms. Merkle for years to thank her for the impact she made in my life. I doubt very seriously that I would have embarked on a creative path had it not been for her Humanities class at Lakeside and it´s profound effect on me, my world view and my never ending quest to find the good in others by seeing them in totality. It breaks my heart that I never got to tell her or that she never got a chance to see or hear works of my mine that might not exist if not for her tutelage.
God bless.
Lisa Milledge
April 25, 2024
Ms. Merkle. Thanks for teaching me everything I know about great literature. And thanks for giving me the classes section to edit for Valhalla, not lol!!! You will be missed.
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Tom Leonard
April 25, 2024
My only contact with Mrs Merkle was when I was waiting outside my future wife English classroom. Mrs MERKLE came out first as the bell rang and asked me if I was waiting for my `better half´. I don´t think I knew what to answer but I wish I had said I was proud to have Joanne as my better half. I´m sure she was an exception person and teacher but I never had her for a mentor.
`Ole Pais
April 24, 2024
When thinking back on `67 12th English, I smile.
She made it FUN. So: Keep On Smiling! And Laughing! Linda Merkle wanted you to do that!!
William I Sauser Jr PhD
April 24, 2024
I wonder how many thousands of people had their lives touched in meaningful ways by this remarkable woman. Thank you, "Mrs. Merkle" for being an inspiring teacher to all of us at Lakeside High. You REALLY made a difference. The world is a better place because you were in it. I look forward to seeing you again in Paradise! William Sauser, LHS `68
Stephen Cunningham
April 24, 2024
I had the great honor of having Mrs. Merkle as my English teacher for two years in a row. First for 10th grade, after which I took 11th grade English in summer school. When I came back in the fall, she had switched to teaching twelfth grade and I got her again! Lakeside High, class of 1967.
Alicia Hodges
April 22, 2024
Linda was my friend while she lived in her home in Westfield Square. When she moved, I lost touch with her. Alicia
Hodges
#6 Downshire Lane
Gail Pickens Hayden
April 21, 2024
Ms Merkle had a profound influence on my life. She helped us establish what became great traditions of honor at Lakeside from the very beginning. I learned so much about appreciation of and critical thinking about all I read. My Senior year Humanities class that she led along with Betty Hurst and Bill Driscoll was college level challenging and fun. She shared a very special time in the lives of thousands of students.
I think my favorite story is the laughter and joy she shared with us about winning a race in her VW because no one else entered! We loved that trophy!
Run with the wind in fair seas!
Gail Pickens Hayden
Lakeside `68
Nancy Bonnell Burton
April 21, 2024
My favorite English teacher 9th or10th grade in1965-66. I have never forgotten how much fun she was, and yet a wonderful teacher. A special lady. Class of 1968
Debbie Smiley Pulley
April 21, 2024
Since I only needed one credit (English) to graduate she made sure I got it. It definitely was not a priority for me. Thank you, Ms. Merkle! <3
Donna (Beck) Blanton
April 21, 2024
So many fond memories of Ms. Merkle and her English and Yearbook classes at Lakeside High School in the early '80s. She loved us, her students, and we adored her. Sail on, dear one, into the warm sunset of God's love.
Donna (Beck) Blanton, LHS '84
Kristi L Woods
April 21, 2024
Aww cheers to this fine lady. I remember Miss Merkle w deep affection as my Lakeside senior year English teacher. Loved her zeal for books and writing. She was most beloved and will remain in hallowed memory along w my other departed Lakeside teachers and classmates.
Bidding you so long and fair winds and following seas... with love.
Kristi Woods Lakeside High c/o 1988
Donald Weissman
April 21, 2024
Linda Merkle was a remarkable person, a great sailor, and an inspiring leader in LLSC. We all lost someone special with her passing.
J. Michael Baran
April 21, 2024
Ahhh...Mrs. Merkle....the teacher who made our school yearbook, "Valhalla", such a wonderful publication. It was treated as a club back then....getting class credit. One sticking point: You had to love eating bagles and lox to get in!! She was also a great teacher of Science Fiction and Fantasy...had her for one class in 1974. In 1990, when I was working for my father at his music store, I was dropping off instruments at Columbia High School, where she had been named the new principal of the school...when she found out I had been a teacher for a few years...she wanted to hire me!! She was a marvelous person...teacher...and friend. I will miss her...and memorize her in our school's "In Memoriam" Facebook page....~J. Michael Baran
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