Linda Ann Oswalt

Linda Ann Block Oswalt-or "Ma" as she was affectionally known by members of her Faith Church family, many of whom she had taught in Sunday School-entered her earthly life on January 15, 1934 in Dallas, Texas and departed for her Heavenly home on September 24 at the age of 91 years.

One of two children born to Cecil and Mary Lee Block in Dallas, Texas, Linda graduated from Adamson High School in Dallas and married Silas Joe Emmett Oswalt ("Pa") on January 19,1952. Until 1963, Joe served in the U.S. Air Force and during this time, Linda became a talented homemaker. She was an exceptional seamstress (Each grandchild received one of her beautifully-crafted Christmas stockings.) and she was known on more than one occasion to give "lessons" on how to bake her German Chocolate Cake. During these years, Joe and Linda became parents to a son, Joseph Paul, and a daughter, Martha Ann. At the center of their lives was their support and faithfulness to the First Pentecostal Church first on Jones and Maxey and then on Harrison Street and finally to the congregation's 2006 move as Faith Church on Heritage Parkway. Throughout all those years, Linda served faithfully anywhere she was needed in the congregation. Especially, she loved teaching Sunday School and many of her students still recall today her creative, solidly Word-based, humorous lessons. Even in the last few years, as a member of the Senior Adult Sunday School class, frail though she was at times, Linda still had much to offer for her knowledge of God's Word was deep and sure, the result of a lifetime of study and dedication. She was never shy about commenting on lessons, especially if she had something to say.

After retirement in 2018, "Ma" and "Pa" moved to the Renaissance (known today as Asher Point) where they avidly embraced this new phase of their lives. Linda always enjoyed board games like Canasta and Mahjong and delightedly loved to relate that she and Joe won so many Bingo games that one resident complained that they were "cheaters"! According to Linda, the highlight of their time there was when they were elected "King and Queen of the Renaissance"! After Joe passed in 2021, Linda remained there (still "cheating", no doubt) until her health declined and she moved to assisted living.

Linda was predeceased by her husband Joe, parents, brother Wayne Block, and nephew Larry Block. Surviving her are son Paul and wife Debbie and daughter Martha and son-in-law Joe Shadid, all of Sherman. Also surviving her are three grandchildren: Cy Shadid and wife Autumn, Mia and husband Jonathan Arnette and Trent Oswalt and wife Kourtney. Six great-grandchildren also survive her.

Family Night for Linda will be at Waldo Funeral Home from 6:00-8:00 PM on Monday, September 29 and Graveside Services will be held on Tuesday, September 30 at 2:00 PM at Cedarlawn Memorial Park. Officiants are Ryan Cernero, Jonathan Arnette and Caleb Dupuis. Honorary Pallbearers are Bert Bond, Robert Bond, Mark Brown, Don Campbell, John Cernero, Brandon Kumler, Ron Kumler, Bob Loftin, Brad Morgan and Anthony Powell.

Memorials may be made to the Family Life Center Fund, Faith Church, P.O. Box 1061, Sherman, Texas 75091.

Peaceful and calm to her last breath, she commented to Martha and Debbie at her bedside, "Am I going to see Jesus today?" When asked whom she wanted to see first, she said, "Jesus, then Joe and then everybody!" She finished her life as she lived it: wanting to see Jesus.