Linda Rae McClearn, age 69, formerly of Cambridge Springs, PA, passed away at her residence in Canadohta Lake, on Tuesday, April 23, 2013. She, along with her twin sister, Karen, were born on February 9, 1944 in Meadville. They graduated together from Saegertown High School in 1962 and continued their education taking IBM Data Processing classes together.
Linda was one of the founding members of Cambridge Area Volunteer Ambulance Service which was established in 1975. It was monumental in bringing emergency response services to the Cambridge Springs area. Following her twin sister’s passing in 1990, Linda assumed the mother role to Debbie Kibbee, Patti Courtney, and Cheryl Collins with great joy.
Linda married her loving and devoted husband – Judson McClearn on October 2, 1992 after being introduced in 1990 by her best friend – Cathy Williams and her husband, Dan. Cathy and Linda have remained friends for more than 20 years. Linda and Jud have been dedicated foster parents for 18 years and have opened both their hearts and their home to more than 120 children for whom they have received numerous awards including “Foster Parents of the Year”.
Surviving Linda is her husband – Judson C. McClearn of Canadohta Lake and their children – Marc Johns and his wife, Wendy and their three sons – Jordan, Kevin, and Greg of Centerville; Edward Laird and his wife, Mary and their son Anthony of Springboro; Rick Johns and his two children – Katie and Nicholas of Cleveland, OH; Kimberly Laird and her husband, Dave and their two sons – Travis and David of Meadville; Judson McClearn, Jr. of Linesville; Carla Collins and her husband – William and their children – Kristen and Billy of Guys Mills; Crystal Delp and her two daughters – Sydney and Emily of Espyville; Steven Thomas and his wife, Jennifer and their two daughters – Ainsley and Taegen all of Sumter, SC and Jacob Thomas and his fianc???, Mallorey and their daughter – Brooke of Edinboro. Surviving siblings include Ronald Wrye and his wife, Marcia of Laurel, MT; Judy Wrye of Cambridge Springs; Rebecca Timco and her husband, Robert of Saegertown; and Timothy Wrye and his wife, Kim of Mohnton as well as numerous nieces, nephews, and friends.
Preceding Linda in death were her parents – Norman A. Wrye and Marian R. McClain Wrye, her identical twin sister – Karen Timco, and her grandson – Jacob Laird.
Friends may call at the Van Matre Family Funeral Home in Cambridge Springs on Friday from 2-4 and 7-9 and are invited to attend funeral services there on Saturday morning at 10:00. Reverend Rod Beardsley, pastor of Cambridge Springs First Baptist Church, will officiate.
This is my nana…. It was very hard but she is in a better place now, R.I.P Nana I love you.
Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.
Our thoughts and Prayers from NC are with you Jud, Rick, Marc and your whole family as you go through this tough time. We wish we could be there with you to comfort you. Linda was an amazing lady, wife, mom, and foster mom she will be missed so much!! The Lord is blessed with another special Angel! Lots and lots of love and hugs being sent your way!
Love Ya, Clair, Arlene, Gail Baker, Crystal and Gary Orr
Sorry had a mistake in my first post…
I remember Linda fondly. I worked for Bethesda and was one of the foster care workers who made home visits. She and Jud were exceptional foster parents. My prayer for the family is for strength, peace and comfort; that God has his arms around you.
UNCLE JUD AND CHILDREN,WE ARE SORRY FOR YOUR LOSS.AUNT LINDA WAS A VERY LOVING LADY AND WILL BE DEEPLY MISSED BY US ALL.SHE TOUCHED SO MANY LIVES.UNCLE JUD ,YOU AND THE FAMILY ARE IN OUR PRAYERS.SORRY CANT BE THERE FOR ALL.LOVE MELISSA,BUTTSY,BRIAN HOLLER AND MISTY ,ASH,AND AMANDA PULFORD
Jud, Marc and Rick, my sincerest condolences are with all of you in the celebration of Linda’s generous and loving life. You have so much to cherish in your memories. A great woman, indeed. Sorry I cannot be there due to family emergency, but my thoughts are with all of you. Her peace is now here.
JUD, I AM WANTING TO KNOW YOU AND ALL YOUR CHILDREN, ARE IN MY THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS. YOU AND LINDA TOUCHED SO MANY LIVES AND I KNOW SHE IS STILL TOUCHING LIVES. I AM BLESSED TO HAVE KNOWN LINDA AND YOU.
TAKE CARE AND GOD BLESS
KELLY
Our thoughts and Prayers from NC are with you Jud, Rick, Marc and your whole family as you go through this tough time. We wish we could be there with you to comfort you. Linda was an amazing lady, husband, mom, and foster mom she will be missed so much!! The Lord is blessed with another special Angel! Lots and lots of love and hugs being sent your way.
To the Wrye family: I was sad to hear of Linda’s passing. I have lots of fond memories of our families visiting together on your parents farm. My Dad used to call Karen and Linda “twinie” since he had a hard time telling them apart. Both Karen and Linda were like big sisters to me. Please know that my thoughts and prayers are with you all.
Love,
Willa
Uncle Jud,and famly ,,We are so sorry for your loss, Linda was a caring person and everyone loved her, You guys are in our Prayers,She is an Angel flying high with all our other Angels up there,She will be Sadly missed,, Love Lindy McGill and Joan McClearn..
May you find comfort and strength in the love of family and friends.
Linda was an especially wonderful woman who I am so glad found time for me in her life. It was very comforting to have her support and expertise. I especially thank her for being with us as dad passed from this world. Hope they get to share a few more good times together in heaven. I’ll also take this time to thank both Jud and Linda for putting special people in our lives–Steve Thomas and his beautiful family are very dear to my heart.
Beautiful people. Beautiful memories.
Linda was a gift to the world. I’ve known Linda all my life, but didn’t really get to KNOW her until I was the Speech Language Pathologist for one of her foster children. At that point, as an adult, therapist and mother myself, I saw the incredible beauty that was Linda. She had an incredibly generous and open heart, but an inner strength to do the really hard things in life. Several of her foster children had special needs and Linda loved them enough and was tough enough to always do the right thing by them, even when the right thing was not the easy thing. She wanted the best for them.
I know how much her children adore her and that tells me everything I need to know about what kind of parent she was.
She is an inspiration to me.
Much love to Jud, Rick, Marc and the rest of the family and children that will feel her void so painfully. Time is a wonderful thing and someday you will smile at her memory instead of cry.
Shelley
Rick & Marc: I want you to know you are in my thoughts and prayers. Your mom was one in a million and a pleasure to work with on CAVAS. She will be missed by everyone who had the pleasure of knowing her.
I meant Marc instead of John. Please forgive me, my cousin John just lost his wife last Friday and I must of had him on my mind. In any event, so very sorry for yet another loss of a good person.
Rick and John I am so sorry for the loss of your mother. I used to live next to you guys on Venango Avenue. I saw Linda several times at the DR’s office and we would catch up on things and she always gave me a hug. I guess she could just tell when someone needed a hug. She was such a caring person and she will be sorrily missed. Take care and hang in there, it will get better.