Linda R. Saffier

It’s hard to remember a time when I did not know Linda. We were both born spring of 1950. We met the summer of 1954 at my neighbor’s 4th birthday party. Linda and I had just turned 4 years old ourselves. I was living with my mother and siblings in a rental house as my parents had recently separated and my mother was having a house built. Linda was living with her grandparents Levand because her mother was being treated for polio which left her paralyzed. In late 1954 our house was completed. And, much to my surprise, Linda’s parents were building a house right next door! We were close friends from that time forward. Over the last several years we spoke about every week or two. We loved to reminisce about our childhood growing up on Lightner Drive. We attended Will G. Price Elementary School. When classroom assignments were made, we were eager to see if we were placed in the same classroom. One year we weren’t and I was so sad knowing how much I’d miss being with Linda but thankfully I was moved to her class. YAY! We both loved to ride bikes, play jacks on her front porch, jump rope tying one end to her garage door handle so we could take turns turning the rope while the other jumped. We would walk to Bridle and Saddle and rent horses to ride, a dollar for one hour. Our favorite horses were Roho and Patches. On early summer mornings I’d come to Linda’s bedroom window, stand on the outdoor water spigot calling “Vinda Vose” for her to come go crawdad fishing in the creek behind our houses. Linda would bring the bait, raw bacon. Many hours were spent playing with neighborhood kids, Danny and Greg, forming a “club” in Greg’s club house, running races down the middle of our street, etc. Our favorite foods were large kosher dill pickles, cheese we’d melt on her gas stove top, and cream filbert candy. I think her grandmother Nonnie bought it at Innes’ candy counter. If you stood close to her grandfather Pa he would swing his leg behind him, popping you in the rear end. Her uncle Jimmy would take us to scary movies, The House on Haunted Hill to name just one. We’d go swimming in the Rudd’s pool. We’d eat ice cream sundaes at Woolworth’s. Linda bringing enough money to pay for mine too. Sometimes Donna would drive us to Robinson Junior High in Nonnie’s old BIG black car. Of course, I have fond memories of her parents, Melvin with his funny sense of humor, “Aunt ‘whomever’ is going to be late, she has to pick up her brain at the dry cleaners.” and Annabelle always so sweet, caring and happy to see you making you feel special when she was really the special one. In 1962 I moved north of town so we didn’t see each other as much. Happily, I moved back to the east side of town in 1966 when I went to live with my father. Linda and I were back together this time at Southeast High School. In 1969-1970 we crossed paths at WSU. As years went by Linda moved to Texas and I to Maryland, Virginia and North Carolina. We continued to stay in touch. Our friendship came to a close April 2020 soon after her 70th birthday. We had been friends for 66 years! I started missing her the minute I heard that she was gone. I’ll miss her phone calls but I can still hear her voice… Terrr-eeee!. Love you friend. written by Terry Ralstin Hamlin April 26, 2020

I have only known Linda for the past 5-6 years. It came about thru an Ancestry.Com gift I received from one of my sons one Christmas. She is an offspring of my Grandfather’s brother, which makes us cousins. I had a number of visits with Linda over the phone and was even previldged to have several conversations with her father, Melvin, while he was living. I was so sorry to hear that she is gone and feel I have lost a good friend.

You will be missed. My prayers with your family.