Linda White

As her family and friends can attest, Linda White was one of the most caring people you could ever meet. She was deeply devoted to her family, her work, and her community, which made her the sort of person everyone seemed to know. Linda was blessed to share several years with John, her true love, and together they experienced so many of the best things that life has to offer. Life will never be the same without Linda here, but the hearts and lives of so many others will be forever changed for the better due to her special touch.

During the first half of the 1940s, the eyes of our nation were focused overseas as WWII raged on. Countless young American men and women had answered the call to serve, and those who remained stateside eagerly awaited the latest news from the front lines. Amidst this monumental time was a time of great celebration in the lives of Charles and Edna Tassell as they were blessed with the birth of the baby girl they named Linda on March 27, 1943, in Kalamazoo, Michigan. She was the middle of 11 children as she was joined in her family by her older siblings, Kenneth, Dale, Marily, Gordon, and Joyce, as well as her younger siblings, Dennis, Helen, Mike, Mary, Jane, and Gale. Linda was raised in the family home in Scotts where her parents were farmers. In many ways Linda was a young girl of the times. She attended a one-room schoolhouse during her earliest years in school while she went on to graduate from Galesburg-Augusta High School. Linda was so proud of her blue ’57 Chevy.

Known for her strong work ethic, Linda made her career with Michigan Bell. She started there as an operator just after finishing high school. From there Linda became a clerk, and as Michigan Bell later became Ameritech/SBC, Linda continued to advance into various positions. Over the years she became a clerk and a frame tech.

There was never anything of greater significance to Linda than her loved ones. She was blessed with two daughters, Jodi and Toni, and then when she later married John White she welcomed two additional daughters, Heather and Nicol, into her heart and home. Linda and John had started their relationship in 1977 and made it official in Las Vegas when they exchanged their vows. They had met at work, and to John Linda was affectionately known as “Spike” or “Stumpy.” For many years they worked at the same location and spent many hours commuting to and from work together as a result. Once they moved to Grandville, their commute became much shorter. Of the greatest importance, however, was that together they raised four amazing daughters who made them so proud. Later, they welcomed four grandchildren and even six great-grandchildren into their family. As a family they enjoyed trips to up-state New York to visit the White family, took trips to Las Vegas, and made road trips across the country to visit family and area casinos. In her younger years Linda enjoyed spending time at the lake with family and friends. At times she and John also took long weekends to visit local casinos as well as additional trips to Las Vegas.

Throughout her life Linda preferred to keep busy and was a woman of many interests. She was a caretaker at heart and anticipating the needs of others kept her busy. For instance, if she knew she would be gone for the day it has been said that she made John a sandwich so he wouldn’t have to starve! Linda spent numerous hours entertaining her grandchildren and great-grandchildren by getting down to their level and playing since that is what they enjoyed doing. There was also plenty of board games when Linda was around. She enjoyed coaching Beep Baseball with John and the other Michigan Bell employees for years. Linda bowled on a league and also enjoyed reading, solving puzzles, shopping, and playing Keno. When relaxing with some television she liked watching crime dramas and various movies. Mystery and crime novels were usually her favorite books to read as well. Linda collected many things including owls, tea pots, Swarovski crystal, and Precious Moments figurines.

All who knew Linda White would agree that she was the heartbeat of wherever she went. She was so patient and giving, and she was known to laugh so hard that she would end up crying and almost pee her pants! Linda’s first thoughts were always of others, and she would do whatever she could without needing anything in return. Deeply loved by so many, Linda will be forever missed.

Linda White, age 76, passed away on Monday, February 24, 2020 at Brookdale Portage - Memory Care. Linda was preceded in death by her parents and by 3 brothers and 1 sister: Dale, Kenneth, Dennis Tassell, and Mary Jane Amey. Members of her family include her husband of over 30 years, John White; 4 daughters: Jodi (Doug) Colby, Toni Braden, Heather White and Nicol DelVechio; 4 grandchildren: Michael (Kelly) Walden, Shannon Thompson, Shane Lisk and Mallory DelVechio; 6 great-grandchildren: Lilly, Addison, Ayrianna, Kaylynn, Jaelah, and Dayjah; siblings: Marilyn Machan, Gordon (Bert) Tassell, Joyce (Harry) Hickey, Helen Soule, Mike (Shelly) Tassell, and Gale Tassell and many nieces and nephews. Cremation will take place. A Celebration of Linda’s life will be held in the future. Please visit Linda’s personal memory page at www.BetzlerLifeStory.com where you can read her life story, archive a favorite memory or photo and sign her guestbook. Memorial Contributions may be made to Hospice Care of Southwest Michigan or to the Lewy Body Dementia Association. Betzler Life Story Funeral Home (6080 Stadium Dr., Kalamazoo, MI 269-375-2900).