Linda Hare Obituary

Linda Hare, 83, of rural Atlanta, Kansas, passed away at Winfield Senior Living in Winfield and went to eternal life with her Lord on Saturday, October 11, 2025.

Linda Jane (Alstrom) Hare was born February 24, 1942, in Springfield, Massachusetts and raised in nearby Longmeadow. She was the daughter of Albert and Dorothy (Johnson) Alstrom. Linda attended Technical High School in Springfield and graduated from Michigan State University in 1964 with a B.A. in Psychology. A couple of months later, she was offered a position as a Flight Attendant with United Airlines. Linda's father flew United often on business and suggested she apply with United. Linda had another idea. Since United did not fly any International routes at the time, she applied and was hired immediately by Trans World Airlines (TWA). Similarly, Rondy, Linda's younger sister by two years, graduated from Michigan State and also hired on with TWA working many years there until eventually leaving to become a successful real estate broker in Maryland. Except for the first few months with TWA, Linda worked international flights exclusively to the Far East, the Middle East, and Europe while based in Los Angeles, Chicago, or New York. Linda managed to continue her education by taking classes at Springfield College in MA, Wichita State University, and the University of Central Oklahoma.

In March of 1965, while working a flight from Rome to New York, Linda met Gordon Hare who was returning from escorting a tour group to the Holy Land. At the time, Linda was living in Massachusetts and Gordon in Los Angeles. On May 10, 1975, Linda and Gordon married and moved in December, 1975, from Mt. Prospect, Illinois near Chicago to a 110-acre place they bought near Atlanta, Kansas. Linda then began commuting from Wichita to New York to work her international flights, and did so for nine years. In 1984, Gordon was hired by the Oklahoma Horse Racing Commission and they moved to Edmond, Oklahoma where they bought a home. Linda began commuting from Oklahoma City to New York to work her flights. During an airline strike, she worked for the State of Oklahoma Employment Service helping people find employment and later as a receptionist for an Oklahoma City Psychiatrist. Eventually, American Airlines took over TWA and Linda technically became an American Airlines employee, but she never worked an American flight and retired in 2001 after 36 plus years. Along the way, Linda developed an interest in genealogy while researching her family ancestry and her husband's family which led her to start a genealogy side business. Linda wrote a moving story about her great-great grandfather, Dr. Charles Hill, a surgeon in the Civil War, that was published in "An Album of Ancestors" edited by Alexandra Johnson. In 2005, Linda authored a book entitled "Seven Hares in the Civil War", a compilation of the individual stories of Iowa and Ohio soldier relatives of her husband. The book was acclaimed and recommended by the Ohio Genealogy Society.

Linda was a member of the Oklahoma City Computer Club, the Ohio Genealogy Society, the New York Genealogy Society, a member of the Daughters of the Civil War Sallie Peacheater Tent #18, Oklahoma City, a member, under four different family names, of the Daughters of the American Revolution Susannah French Putney Chapter, El Dorado, Kansas, and a member of the Cowley County Historical Society Museum.

After Linda's husband's retirement as Executive Director of the OHRC in 2005, they moved back to their small ranch in the Flint Hills of Kansas where she enjoyed her cats and the gardening and often accompanied her husband to horseback riding events across the West. Over the years, Linda managed to find time to personally hand sew four large bed size quilts including a special one in memory of the Civil War. It is made with late 1800s pattern fabrics depicting four different recognizable battles.

Linda never knew a stranger. She was a good cook, especially Mediterranean and Italian, always cooking from scratch having learned from her 'Auntie' Rose, the Italian neighbor lady. Linda was a loving and caring wife and friend. She often would be reading her Bible and listening to gospel music and Elvis as well. She enjoyed visitors and fellowship with neighbors, family and friends. About 2018, Linda began to experience frontal temporal dementia which she endured as it progressed until her passing.

Linda was preceded in death by her parents. She is survived by her husband, Gordon, of the home; her sister, Rondy Alstrom, of Tilghman, MD; in-laws, Larry and wife Marilyn Hare, of Salt Lake City, UT; Jim and wife Mary Jane Thorne, of Bartlesville, OK; Wayne and wife Pam, of Petaluma, CA; and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.

The family wants to thank all those who provided support and prayers, especially the private caregivers and staff of Gentiva Hospice and Winfield Senior Living.

Memorial services will be held at 2:00 P.M., Wednesday, October 29, 2025, at Miles Funeral Service. Private burial will follow at the Kansas Veterans Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in Linda's name for The Salvation Army. Contributions may be made through the funeral home.

Online condolences may be made at www.milesfuneralservice.com