Linda Theurer Howe

1947 - 2021

HOWE, Mrs. Linda Theurer, 74, of Richmond, passed away Thursday, April 1, 2021. Linda was raised in Carlisle, Pa. and attended high school in Flemmington, N.J. She attended Bates College in Maine from 1966 to 1969 and graduated with a bachelor's degree in psychology. After a brief stay in San Francisco, she and her college roommate, Emily, settled in Durham, N.C. to work in the Duke University library and other university offices, where she met and married the love of her life, Dick Howe. Their wedding date was September 25, 1976. They added the joint love of their lives, their only child Jennifer, in 1980.

She was preceded in death by her parents, William H. Theurer and Dorothy Mildred Kline Theurer; and her eldest brother, William H. Theurer Jr., all of Pennsylvania. Linda is survived by her husband of 44 years, Charles Richard "Dick" Howe; her loving daughter, Jennifer Lynn Howe and her husband, Rey Leo Mehlhorn; brother, Thomas N. Theurer of Altoona, Pa.; sister, Dorothy Noel of Colorado Springs, Colo.; and sister-in-law, Anne Marie Theurer of Pennsylvania. She is also survived and loved by Dick's siblings and their families; and longtime friends, Jim and Emily Lebedda of Pennsylvania and Catherine Mishler of Richmond.

Linda was best known for her volunteerism, especially in the schools Jennifer attended, with particular interest in Maggie Walker Governor's School (MWGS) in Richmond, where the senior student cited each year for volunteering is given the Linda Howe Community Service Award.

She was active in the PTA of her daughter's schools, including serving as PTA president at each school. Linda also served on the board of directors for the Virginia Association for the Gifted, in which she was granted life membership in 2008. She was especially proud to have become proficient with grant writing, pursuing and obtaining grants for the MWGS Foundation and also for Benedictine High School.

Linda was a gifted writer, a talented cook (well-known for potato salad and apple pie) and a loving wife and mother. She enjoyed brunch with friends and family, bird watching and visiting the Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Maggie L. Walker Governor's School Foundation (mlwgs.com/support/foundation/), Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden (lewisginter.org), the Richmond food bank (Feedmore.org), or to the animal rescue organization of your choice.

Linda was cremated as per her wishes, and a memorial service will be held at 3 p.m. Saturday, April 17, 2021 at Affinity Funeral Service – Richmond Chapel, 2720 Enterprise Pkwy., Richmond, Va. 23294. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service. Masks and social distancing are required. Condolences may be expressed in the online guestbook at affinityfuneralservice.com, where a link to a live stream of the service will also be available on April 17.