Linda Diane Carter

Lt. Colonel Linda D. Carter, US Air Force (Ret.), 77, of Jackson, Missouri, passed away on November 9, 2025, surrounded by her family. Born April 30, 1948, in Jackson, Mississippi, she was the daughter of Samuel A. and Gladys E. (Price) McGuffee, Sr.
Linda spent part of her youth in Japan, graduating from Narimasu High School and earning a B.A. in History from Sophia University in Tokyo. She continued her education with an M.A. in History from the University of New Mexico, an M.A. in Human Relations from Pacific Lutheran University, and a J.D. from the University of Puget Sound School of Law.
She served honorably in the United States Air Force from 1971 to 1992. Following her military retirement, Linda dedicated herself to public service as an Administrative Law Judge from 1995 until her retirement in 2011 in Springfield, Missouri.
On October 5, 1974, Linda married Billy W. Carter at McChord Air Force Base in Washington State. Together, they enjoyed camping, fishing, boating, visiting the shooting range, and traveling the world during their military careers. Linda cherished time with her family and her beloved dogs, Boots and Rudy. She was passionate about Bible and prophecy studies and maintained a strong faith throughout her life, attending First Baptist Church in Ozark, Missouri.
Linda was preceded in death by her father, Samuel, and Elfriede McGuffee; her mother, Gladys E. Price; her husband, Billy W. Carter; and her brother, Samuel A. McGuffee, Jr. She is survived by her siblings, Annie (David) Willis, Susie (David) Hildebrand, and Austin (Debbie) McGuffee; her stepson, David Carter; nieces and nephews Erin Boyer, Samantha (Travis) Barnes, Justin McGuffee, Ashley (Jesse) Hughes, Jennifer (Eric) Shannon, Jamie (Santiago) Fileta, and Simone (Nathan) Moore; and great-nieces and nephews Jeremiah Garner, Frankie, Colton and Jaxson Boyer, Wyatt and Morgan Barnes, Rosalie Hughes, Jude Shannon, Rome Fileta, Silas and Viviane Moore.
Visitation will be held from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. on Tuesday, November 18, 2025, at Walnut Lawn Funeral Home, 2001 W. Walnut Lawn St., Springfield, Missouri. Funeral services will follow at 11:30 a.m. with Dr. Phillip Burden officiating. A committal service with full military honors will be held at 1:00 p.m. at Missouri Veterans Cemetery, 5201 S. Southwood Road, Springfield, Missouri.
In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests that memorial contributions be made to Convoy of Hope or Ozarks Food Harvest in Springfield, Missouri, in honor of Linda D. Carter.
Her care has been entrusted to Walnut Lawn Funeral Home, Ltd, Springfield, MO.