Obituary of Linda J. Martin

Linda Jo Warnock-Martin was welcomed into the arms of Jesus on May 19, 2017 after a nine-year battle with Alzheimer's. She possessed a sweet spirit and a servant's heart; she was a loving daughter, a devoted and wonderful mother, and a beloved friend.Linda was born August 2, 1950 in Grand Rapids, Michigan to John and Faith (VanderBroek) Warnock. She grew up in western Michigan and graduated from Forest Hills High School in 1968. First attending Lincoln Christian College, she graduated from Michigan State University in 1973 with a degree in elementary education.In 1975, Linda met Gary Martin while she was hosting at Bylsma's Restaurant in Grand Rapids. They were married March 26, 1977 in 'The Barn' – Bella Vista Christian Church, where Linda was the director of music. After living in the South Bend, Indiana and San Diego, California areas, they returned to Grand Rapids and became involved in Calvary Church, where Linda enjoyed singing in both the choir and in the women's chorale group, Sweet Spirit. She was a talented vocalist and pianist. Worship music was the first thing Linda turned to for both consolation and inspiration . . . and one of the last things to leave her in her struggle with Alzheimer's.Rather than teaching in school classrooms, Linda enjoyed working in - and supervising - school cafeterias, mostly in the Forest Hills Northern school district. Moving to Colorado Springs in June 2008, she was shortly thereafter diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer's. During her final nine years, she was well-cared for in loving, compassionate Colorado Springs memory care facilities.Linda is survived by her children, Jennifer (Greg) Rickabough of Boardman, Ohio, and Douglas (Megan) Martin of South Jordan, Utah; granddaughter, Emily Rickabough; former husband, Gary Martin of Colorado Springs; sister, Barbara (Craig) Woolf of Greenville, South Carolina; and nieces, Rachel (Adam) Pereira of Mansfield, Pennsylvania, and Sarah Woolf of Charleston, South Carolina. A Visitation will be held at 12:30PM-2:00PM, followed by a Celebration of Life Service at 2:00PM, Friday, July 21, 2017 at the Grand Rapids Theological Seminary at Cornerstone University, 3000 Leonard NE, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49525 in the Leon Wood Seminary Building Pirsig-DeBruyn Chapel. Please join the family for a reception immediately following the service.Memorials may be made in Linda's memory to the Alzheimer's Association (alz.org) or to the Humane Society.Funeral Home:The Springs Funeral Services3115 East Platte AvenueColorado Springs, , COUS 80909 Events Service Friday, July 21, 2017 12:30PM - 2:00PM Grand Rapids Theological Seminary - Cornerstone University 3000 Leonard NE Grand Rapids, MI 49525 Phone: . Service Friday, July 21, 2017 2:00PM Grand Rapids Theological Seminary - Cornerstone University 3000 Leonard NE Grand Rapids, MI 49525 Phone: .