Linda Tooley

1942 - 2024

Linda Fay Bennington Tooley, 82, passed away peacefully on July 31, 2024 with her daughter Kimberly by her side and her sister Helen walking through the door. She was the wife of 48 years of Dr. Norman Tooley, the mother of Dr. Kimberly Tooley, the grandmother of Simora Tooley and a friend to people all over the world.

Linda was born on February 10, 1942 in Cooper, Texas. Linda was the second youngest of nine. She was preceded in death by her father Joseph Rueben Bennington, mother Nettie Clementine Cates Bennington, brother Thomas Bennington, sister Rachel Bennington Weatherly, brother JT Bennington, sister Mary Bennington Jeffcoat, brother Raymond Bennington, sister Ruby Nell Bennington Dixon and niece Rozland Jeffcoat Garland.

Linda is survived by her daughter, Dr. Kimberly Tooley, granddaughter Simora Tooley, her sister Helen Bennington Roberson, sister Sandy Bennington Crawford and nieces and nephews too numerous to count.

Linda was an exceptional mother, wife, daughter, sister, aunt and friend who will be missed by all that had the pleasure of knowing her. Linda grew up in Commerce, Texas and one of her fondest memories was going to the small town churches on Sundays with her siblings to listen to her father preach.

Linda attended East Texas State University where she received a Bachelor of Science degree with double majors in physical education and biology. She then went to the University of Colorado and received a Master of Science with a major in Adaptive Physical Education and a minor in Psychology and taught with the university in a graduate fellowship program. She specialized in special-needs children and her Master's thesis designed curriculum for deaf and blind children. During her college years she was an avid skier, ski instructor, golfer, tennis player and a synchronized swimmer.

Linda began her teaching career in Amarillo, Texas as a junior high science and health teacher. She continued in Texas as a high school and university physical education/health teacher. Linda coached volleyball, gymnastics and basketball. Linda came to St. Louis in 1970 as a physical education and health teacher at Parkway West High School in the Parkway School District. That is where she met and married her late husband, Dr. Norman Tooley, who was also in public education in the Parkway School District. Linda continued to teach physical education, health and drivers education at both Parkway Central high school and Parkway South high school. She was a cheerleader sponsor, volleyball and basketball coach and was a drill team sponsor. She continued her education and completed her Post Masters Certification at the University of Missouri St. Louis in Guidance and Counseling. After completing her certification, she became a counselor at Parkway East Junior High and immediately started school groups for special needs children. Linda was responsible for piloting the"care team" concept which was recognized nationally as one of the outstanding prevention programs in public schools. She modeled, trained employees and oversaw the implementation of this program in all 26 Parkway schools. The Parkway program which Linda designed and piloted became the foundation for numerous school prevention programs throughout the nation. She always advocated crisis intervention in the schools and spoke throughout the nation concerning this topic and about the care team concept. Linda was also certified in chemical dependency counseling and served as the Human Resource Counselor at Parkway West High School. Linda finished her career in education serving as the Parkway School District Director of Pupil Personnel and Testing. She supervised 65 counselors in 26 schools and directed staff development for counselors, care teams, teachers, nurses, and administrators. She truly believed that all schools could and should reach, teach and assist all children, including those who were the hardest to love.

Linda's professional honors are extensive. In 1991 she was nominated by the Parkway School District for the "World of Difference" community service award for taking a stand against prejudice, stereotyping and discrimination and promoting the celebration of cultural diversity in the Parkway community. Also, in 1991 she was recognized at the Missouri Peer Helpers Convention for designing and implementing the Parkway C/CONECT program. This school program was recognized as a Missouri outstanding high school peer helper program. One of Linda's highest honors was being selected to receive the 1991 Pillar of Parkway award. This award is given annually to selected individuals for outstanding service and invaluable contributions to the Parkway School District. In 1992 Linda was nominated by the Parkway School District as "The Executive Educator 100" for 1993. Each of the educators selected were profiled in special issues of The Executive Educator and the American School Board Journal magazines. Also, in 1992 Linda was selected as the 1991-1992 Counseling/Administrator Supervisor of the Year by the St. Louis Suburban School Counselors Association. This is just to name a few. Linda from the Parkway School District in 2001.

Linda truly incorporated the philosophy that it takes an entire village to raise a child. She was approachable, tenacious, bold, a visionary, a leader, classy, beautiful and an inspiration to many. Linda's primary focus was always to enable and empower students to succeed. She could often be heard saying "Children do not care how much you know, as long as they know how much you care."

Linda loved life. She was a joy to be around. She loved to travel and visited over 35 countries in her lifetime. One of her most memorable trips was going to Italy with her daughter Kim and watching Kim sing with her choir on tour and then coming back to the US and seeing Kim sing in Carnegie Hall in New York City. If Linda was not traveling with her family many times she traveled with her sisters, especially Helen, who was her best friend. Linda was a talented artist as well as an avid art collector.

Linda's family and faith were the most important to her. She was a member of Ellisville Baptist Church, Kirkwood Baptist Church and most recently Day Spring Baptist Church.

As a wife and a mother her family was her priority. She instilled her faith, her strength and her leadership capabilities in her daughter Kimberly who followed in her footsteps, becoming an elementary teacher, interventionist, and principal. Her most important role, she felt, was as a grandmother. Words can't explain how much she loved her Simora. They spent time together sharing meals, talking, watching movies, laughing and having sleepovers. Talk about spoiling... it was her favorite thing to do. They were soulmates.

Linda will be missed by so many. Her legacy is one of love, generosity and unwavering strength. She taught us the importance of living with purpose, of being there for our loved ones, giving grace, and showed us each and every day the importance of kindness. The amount of people she changed for the better is immeasurable. If you were lucky enough to have her love wrapped around you, your life was forever changed.

A Celebration of Life will be held for Linda on Saturday, August 10, 2024 at 1PM. The service will be held in the chapel at Meramec Bluffs.

GIFTS IN MEMORY OF LINDA

Memorial gifts in Linda's honor may be made to:

St. Louis Foster and Adoptive Care Coalition

https://www.foster-adopt.org/

Luthern Senior Services

lssliving.org

Designate Benevolent Care Fund