Linda Kinney Martin Pitford

Linda Kinney Martin Pitford, 80, passed away Saturday, January 20, 2024, at her home after a battle with cancer.

Visitation will be Friday, January 26, 2024, from 10 a.m. to noon at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 4800 Kennedy Dr., East Moline, IL. Funeral services will be held immediately following at the same location. Graveside service will take place at Mansfield Memorial Park in Ontario, Ohio at 11:00 a.m. (EST) on Monday, January 29, 2024. 

Memorial contributions may be made to the Equal Justice Initiative, Ronald McDonald House Charities, or the Church Humanitarian Aid fund. Esterdahl Mortuary & Crematory, Ltd., Moline, is assisting the family.

Linda Lee Kinney was born on August 7, 1943, in Shelby, Ohio to Dale B. and Velita (Whaley) Kinney, their youngest child and only daughter. She graduated from Lexington (Ohio) High School in 1961. She married her high school sweetheart, William (Bill) Martin, on December 31, 1962, in Ohio. They were blessed with three daughters, Deirdre, Heather, and Rachael. Together they enjoyed working on political campaigns and volunteering with the Jaycees in both Ohio and Iowa. Linda organized babysitting clinics, and established the first Safety Town in West Des Moines, Iowa. She worked a variety of clerical jobs throughout the years, but her most rewarding role was being a wife and mother. Bill and Linda were married for nearly 22 years when Bill unexpectedly passed away in December 1984.

After her husband’s death, Linda returned to college and graduated cum laude from The Ohio State University in December 1990. In 1993, Linda joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which led to a deep and lifelong interest in genealogy. While serving in the Church’s temple in Nauvoo, she was introduced to Robert L. Pitford. They were married on August 16, 2008, in Nauvoo, IL. Together they served two Missions, first at the Salt Lake City Family History Center, and later in Cleveland, Ohio. Bob preceded her in death in 2021.

Linda was an intelligent, idealistic, compassionate, and feisty woman with many talents and interests. She played piano and organ for many years, and enjoyed gardening, puzzles, feeding birds, and spending time with her family. She loved learning, was an avid watcher of PBS specials and Jeopardy!, and always enjoyed a good mystery or legal drama. Linda was very creative and skilled at crochet and other handicrafts. In younger years, she designed and built furniture for her home. She loved babies and was always eager to help young moms she knew by cuddling their little ones.  She had a rich vocabulary, a wonderful sense of humor, and a strong testimony of her Savior.

Survivors include her daughters Deirdre Crouse, Heather (Dale) Weaver, and Rachael (Tšooane) Molapo; Brenda Ingold, Wendy Pitford, Jennifer Pitford, Christina Pitford, Alecia (Bob) Pitman, Marla (Steve) Hawkins, and Tiffany (Drew) Clarke, as well as many beloved grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and cousins. In addition to her husbands, she was preceded in death by her parents, her brothers Robert E. Kinney and Richard D. Kinney, and grandsons Isaac Molapo and Jason Pitman.

Memories may be shared online by visiting esterdahl.com.