Linda Rhine

On the morning of July 20, 2023, Linda Mae Rhine lost her battle with cancer and passed away at her home in Lamar PA.  She was 82 years old.  

Linda was born on March 15, 1941, in North Reading Massachusetts to the late Gertrude A. (Wardwell) and Robert M. Rodgers.  She was a graduate of State College High School class of 1958. 

In November of 1958, Linda married the late Benjamin Whitehill.  They had six children together: the late Wayne Whitehill; Bruce A. (Sherry) Whitehill of Centre Hall, PA; Keith A. Whitehill of Bellefonte, PA; Michael J. (Olivia) Whitehill of Howard, PA; Jennifer L. (Larry) Trunfio of Townsend, DE; and Wendy J. Thomas of Bellefonte PA.  

Although Linda grew up in town, she spent most of her adult life living on a farm – and learned to love it.  When her children were young, she was an active 4-H volunteer and organizational leader, teaching many young people how to cook, cross stitch, knit, sew, and how to lead meetings. She taught her own children how to show animals for 4-H and raise champion steers. 

Linda worked at Penn State University for 20 years in the Continuing Education Department.  She was also a faithful member of Saint Mark Lutheran Church in Snydertown, PA, where she served as church secretary and council representative and was active on many other church committees.  

Throughout her life, she loved all kinds of crafting (sewing, quilting, knitting, and painting), gardening both flowers and vegetables, canning those vegetables, and feeding and watching the birds.  She was an avid puzzler – jigsaw and crosswords – and loved to read.  Linda was an excellent baker and cook and was the first to volunteer to make something for an event or for anyone in need.  She also hosted an annual Holiday Open House with other crafters and friends every fall for over 20 years.  People would come from all over the valley for the crafts, canned fruits and vegetables, and baked goods – and there was always a waiting list for her delicious peanut brittle.

But one of the things Linda loved most was being with her family. She loved being a mother, so much so that she helped care for several foster children and had nieces and nephews come and stay with her house for the summer.  She looked forward to hosting holiday gatherings and baking homemade pies and dinner rolls. She loved the annual family vacations where all of her children and grandchildren would spend a week together in places like Maine, New Hampshire, Tennessee, or the Outer Banks. She was always there for her family (and others) as someone they could talk to, get advice from, and share recipes with. 

In 1999 Linda married the late Glenn A Rhine and they spent many happy years together until his untimely death in 2005.  

In addition to her children, Linda is survived by her brother Kenneth Rodgers of Knoxville, TN; sister-in-law Jayne Rodgers of Middletown, NY; brother-in-law Gene Steele of Boalsburg, PA; and her eight grandchildren: Patrick, Matthew, and Gabriel Trunfio; Raines Whitehill; Haley, Jacob, and Paige Thomas; and Violet Whitehill.  She was preceded in death by her sister, Marilyn Steele, and two brothers, Dennis and Robert (Bettie) Rodgers.    

Services will be held at St. Mark Lutheran Church on Wednesday, July 26. Visitation will start at 10:00 am with a memorial service following at 11:00.  The family invites friends to fellowship and a luncheon at the Walker Township Fire Hall 125 Fire House Lane, Howard, PA 16841 following the service. 

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St Mark Lutheran Church Social Action Committee 850 Snydertown Rd, Howard PA 16841.

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