Linda Honig

Linda Claire Mantooth Honig passed away on March 14, 2021, at the age of 80, from a fall and resulting complications, due to Parkinson's disease, heart disease, and Type 1 diabetes.

Linda was born in Okemah, OK, on April 21, 1940, to Clarence Franklin Mantooth and Mary Melissa Tilden Mantooth. She was predeceased by her parents and her brother Frank Tilden Mantooth. She is survived by her husband of fifty-six years, Ernest Martin Honig, Jr., of Houston, TX; her daughter Melissa Honig of Waltham, MA; her daughter Heather Honig Schwenneker (husband Travis), and her granddaughter Camille Claire Schwenneker, the three being of Davenport, IA.

Linda was quite proud of her Colonial American heritage through her mother's Tilden line. In 1634, Puritan Nathaniel Tilden sailed aboard the ship Hercules from Sandwich, England, to Plymouth, "New England" with family and servants, and was a founder of Scituate, MA.

Linda accomplished much during her life. At age 15, she won first place in the Voice of America contest sponsored by the Tulsa Junior Chamber of Commerce. Linda was in
the first graduating class from Edison High School in Tulsa, OK, and was awarded a National Merit Scholarship. In 1962, she received a BA degree with honors in chemistry from Wellesley College in Wellesley, MA, and was elected to Phi Beta Kappa. She served as a cytogenetics technician at Massachusetts General Hospital for a year following graduation. After a year of graduate study at Rice University, she married Ernest Martin Honig, Jr., of Tyler, TX on August 29, 1964, in Tulsa. Following their marriage, Linda and Ernie continued graduate study at the University of Arizona in Tucson, where Linda received an MS degree in organic chemistry in 1967.

After her daughters were in school, Linda worked as a realtor. She was affiliated with Duffy & LaRoe, Realtors, for 14 years and worked for Prudential, Gary Greene for three years. She was a member of the Rotary Club of Willowbrook for over 20 years, several being spent as "permanent" Club Secretary, and as President of the club for the term 2009-2010. Linda was ordained an elder in the Presbyterian Church USA in 1984.

Linda enjoyed many activities. She sang alto in a church or school choir from the age of 13, and many years in the Sanctuary Choir at Northwoods Presbyterian Church. Linda's music interest led her to enjoy Rice Shepherd School of Music concerts, Houston Grand Opera, and Met Opera Live in HD. She played bridge regularly with many groups, and even taught bridge to friends. Gardening and house plants, especially African violets and cacti, was a favorite hobby. She exercised by walking, yoga, and riding her recumbent bicycle. Rock Steady Boxing gave her therapy and fellowship with other Parkinson's patients.

Linda's family wishes to thank the many doctors and staff who helped her during her illness, including those at Methodist Hospital Willowbrook, Encompass Home Health, Encompass Hospice, and especially the care givers of iTrust Home Care.

A memorial service for the life of Linda will be held at Northwoods Presbyterian Church, 3320 Cypress Creek Parkway, Houston, TX, on June 22 at 1:30 PM. Seating capacity in the sanctuary is limited by social distancing, and masks are required. However, the service will be livestreamed and recorded on the church's Facebook web site:
https://www.facebook.com/NorthwoodsPresbyterianChurch/live_videos/
Interment will be in Okmulgee Cemetery, Okmulgee, OK on June 25 with only family attending.

In lieu of flowers, memorials in Linda's name may be made to Wellesley College, The Shepherd School of Music at Rice University, Juvenile Diabetes Foundation, Pearl Fincher Museum of Fine Arts, Rotary Foundation, Rock Steady Boxing, or the charity of one's choice.

Graveside services are entrusted to Schaudt Okmulgee Funeral Service & Cremation Care.