Linda B. Delong

Linda Beth DeLong was the daughter of Wilfrid and Margaret Washburn Pfahl. Born in Akron, Ohio, Linda grew up as an athletic woman loving basketball, track and field (high jump and pentathlon) and was an accomplished horsewoman. She went to Northwestern University for two years and finished her physical education degree at The Ohio State University. Her first job was starting he physical education department for girls at the Bishop Hartley High School. Hartley started with two years and added the second two years the following year. Linda tried to expose the girls to many sports and Hartley girls learned tennis, field hockey, basketball in addition to track and field. While teaching, Linda also trained in track and field (high jump and pentathlon). She attained a third-place ranking and represented the USA in the PanAm games as well as basketball in the AAU. Linda played basketball when rules were changing for women's basketball to the modern rules and Linda played a significant part in the switch. She coached and taught on the college level, first at Ohio Dominican College and Later and Ohio Wesleyan University where she taught Beth Burns, later the head coach of The Ohio State Buckeyes and San Diego Aztecs. She was a long-term member of the Rocky Fork Headley Hunt both as a member and an honorary member. She provided a retirement home for the Rocky Fork Beagles, eared and retired many fox hound puppies, and provided a retirement life on the farm for horses who were healthy enough to enjoy retirement but too old to be ridden by people. (People still remember Welsh ponies Emily and Lucky Pony). Linda is survived by many good friends- Frank Fulmer, Catherine Bennett, Susan Cowden, Rosemarie Trbovich, Mark and Dawn McCoy, Carol Roman, Laura Gaines, Mary Ellen Renck, Janice Paiewonsky, Bev McMahon, Julie Callahan, Kate Pouch, Dave and Junior Burgess, Sam Martin, Gretchen Corban and Verena Dambrans. Honoring Linda's wishes, there will be no services at this time. HOSKINSON Funeral and Cremation Service, Kirkersville, is honored to care for Linda and her family.