Rev. Linda Marie Snider
September 9, 1945 – June 1, 2023
Author, “Lines from Linda”
TERRE HAUTE – Early in the morning on June 1, 2023, Rev. Linda M. Snider returned to her
heavenly home after a life well-lived. Known to many as “Rev. Babe”, she could light up a room
with her smile and laugh. She was a smart, funny, kind and pretty woman who was fiercely loved
and will be greatly missed by many. She was a creator and a hustler. She was an excellent writer,
passionate minister and wonderful gardener. She was a loyal friend. But mostly, she was our
matriarch. She raised her daughters to be strong, giving, ambitious women. She loved us and
those we choose to love. We are heartbroken, but celebrate this vibrant soul and the indelible
impact she has made on so many.
Born in Beech Grove, IN on September 9, 1945 to Andrew and Waneata (Leitzman) Carr, Linda
was the third of four Carr children. Although, she proclaimed to be their favorite child, her
siblings Edward and Daniel, may disagree! After graduating from Southport High School, she
attended Purdue University and received a Bachelor’s of Science in Home Economics. She often
spoke of her trips on the train from Indianapolis to Lafayette during her college days and how
she enjoyed meeting her mom downtown to visit the L.S. Ayers Tea Room and shop. Waneata
knew the power of education and was determined to send Linda to school. So much so that she
took a job outside of the home to earn money for Linda’s school tuition. This act of love made a
huge impact on her entire life.
Following college, Linda worked as a Home Economist for the Stokely-Van Camp Corporation,
Jenn Air Company and later served as the Director of the Muncie Food Preservation Center for
the Ball Corporation. One of the joys of her life was working with local homemakers in the
community canning center.
A woman of many strengths and talents, at the age of 38-years-old, Linda went back to school to
begin a new career in Theology. A newly single mother of two young daughters, it may not have
seemed like the ideal time to “start over”, but for Linda, she was right where she was supposed to
be. She pursued a Masters of Divinity at Christian Theological Seminary in Indianapolis. As a
woman serving in a leadership role in the early 1980’s, Linda faced great challenges and worked
hard to win the love of her congregations. Her creative spirit and tireless work ethic endeared her
to congregations quickly. And those who didn’t love her, well, God loved them anyway. During
her 30+ year career as a Minister in the United Methodist Church, she served seven churches
including Edwin Ray UMC (1984-1986), Grace UMC (1986-1987), Belmont Blaine UMC
(1987-1993), Dana UMC (1993-1998), Bono UMC (1993-1998), Bloomfield UMC (1998-2000)
and Youngstown UMC (2000 – 2016).
In addition to serving as a Minister, Linda would often have other jobs. She was a Chaplain at
Goodwill Industries in Indianapolis and was a Teacher in the Life Connections Program at the
U.S. Penitentiary in Terre Haute. She loved her work at the prison and referred to her students as,
“my guys!” Outside of her ministry, the career that brought her the most delight was when she
and Marilyn owned and operated the Garden House in Bloomfield, IN. This bed &

breakfast/boutique brought her so much pride and joy. She poured herself into it and relished
helping her guests make wonderful memories.
For ten10 years she would load up her car and drive to Camp Moneto in Brown County, IN to be
the Director at a Pioneer Camp for fourth and fifth graders. She loved this ministry and sharing
God’s love with all of God’s creatures.
Her hobbies were vast! She had a creative brain that would not stop. She loved to create
things…to the point of obsession. She made soaps, lotions, bath bombs, alcohol ink tumblers,
pillowcases, blankets, baby clothes. Her collection of fabric could give Jo-Ann Fabrics a run for
their money. When she lived in Indianapolis, she served as a board member of the Mary Riggs
Neighborhood Center which nurtured her love of community development.
She found a church home with the wonderful people of the Youngtown United Methodist
Church. For 16 years, they shared their lives together celebrating, mourning, and looking
forward to what the future might hold for each of them. When the church closed in 2016, she
found another faith community at Central Christian Church DOC. Her entire family was
welcomed with open arms and for that, she was truly grateful.
She loved to travel, read, sing and write. She spent many years as a member of the Vigo County
Public Library Friends of the Library Group, she worked with the VCPL Tech Team to teach
sewing & quilting classes, she was a member of the Melody Makers of Indiana – Vigo County
Vocal Chords, and wrote “Lines from Linda” for Terre Haute Living magazine. She was honored
to serve on the planning committee for the Taize Prayer Service with the Sisters of Providence.
Most recently, she was putting a lot of energy into making plans for A Total Eclipse of the Haute
on April 8, 2024. She was having the best time serving on the community-wide taskforce and
dreaming about how she could help make this event spectacular.
While her career was important and a large part of her life, there was nothing more important to
her than her close-knit family. She absolutely adored her family – blood relatives and those who
were a “chosen family”. She took so much pride in both of her daughters and their
accomplishments. Linda is survived by her daughters, Michelle (Shelly) Snider (Laura Blake)
and Susan Turner (Isaac); her constant companion for 30 years Marilyn Fisher; her grandsons
Mason Snider-Blake and Max Turner who were the lights of her life; her ex-husband George
Snider; her brother Edward Carr; friends who have become family Billi Jo McNeill, Tricia Lynn
Thompson, Terry Petty, Tammy Petty and Danni Arvin; and many close friends that she loved to
laugh with. She was preceded in death by her parents, her sister, Judy, and her brother Daniel.
A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, June 17, 2023 from 10 a.m. to noon at Central
Christian Church DOC, located at 4950 Wabash Ave., Terre Haute, IN followed by services at
noon. If you are unable to make the celebration, please do something fun to remember our Mom
and the vibrant life she lived. To celebrate Linda, her life and her love of red shoes, we are
asking that you wear red shoes to the celebration. In lieu of flowers, we are asking that donations
be made to Central Christian Church DOC, the Pride of Indy Bands, or the Terre Haute
Children’s Museum.

Linda’s family would like to thank the medical team that worked tirelessly on their behalf over
the past 16 years. Dr. Desai, Dr. S. Patel, Dr. P. Patel, Dr. Rico, Dr. Gaurav, Susan Hester, NP
and Ann Monken, NP gave us years with this wonderful woman. In addition, thank you to the
entire medical team at Visiting Nurses Association for all of their help in the past six months.
Well done good and faithful servant. Well done.

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