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Linda Grace Johnson, 45, of The Plains, Ohio, died April 11, 2007, at Grant Medical Center in Columbus, Ohio, following an extended illness.
She was born Dec. 9, 1961, in Calhoun County, W.Va., the eldest daughter of Dawn Satterfield Johnson and the late Lee "OX" Johnson.
She was a 1980 graduate of Parkersburg South High School. She served as the first female firefighter in Parkersburg. She was an EMT and worked with the fire service for 26 years.
She was an emergency telecommunicator (dispatcher) for several law enforcement agencies, including the Washington VFD, the Wood County Sheriff's Office, Parkersburg City PD, Ritchie County Sheriff's Office and most recently the West Virginia State Police, where she worked straight midnight shifts for nine years.
She was also the president of the West Virginia chapter of APCO, the Association of Public Service Communications Officials.
She was a level four Red Cross training officer, with nearly 30 years of experience. She worked many disasters with her late father, "Ox" and sister, Luinna.
She traveled to all 50 states and much of the world, becoming a station manager at 24.
In addition to her mother, she is survived by her husband, Paul Schmittauer; a stepdaughter, Katie Schmittauer; three sisters, Linnie Johnson, Luinna Sherwood and Larene (Sweet Pea) Johnson, all of Washington, W.Va.; one niece, Abby Sherwood of Washington.
four uncles, Howard Johnson of Grantsville, John Johnson and his wife, Lois, of Walker, Dave Johnson and his wife, Sheila, of Vienna, and Emory Johnson and his wife, Sondra, of Paden City.
Three aunts, Lila Hughes and Grace Dailey of Parkersburg and Linda Skaggs and her husband, Gary, of Grand Junction, Colo.; her mother-in-law, Grace Schmittauer; two brothers-in-law, John and Tim Schmittauer of Athens; and two sisters-in-law, Janet Fauber of Louisville, Ky., and Connie Schmittauer of Athens. She is also survived by special friends, Dawn Stewart of Ravenswood and Allen Holder of Charleston, W.Va.
In addition to her father, she was preceded in death by her daughter, Sarah; and brother-in-law, Gary Sherwood.
Linda was a wonderful, kind spirit, who delighted in serving others. She always thought of others needs before her own, even on her deathbed. She enjoyed her newfound family in Athens, and immersed herself in the community. Her way of treating people shines as a guiding light for those who knew her. We will always strive toward the example she set.
Services will be 3 p.m. Sunday at Sunset Memorial Funeral Home, Parkersburg, with Ron Blevins officiating. Visitation will be from 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. Saturday at the funeral home. Per her request, Linda will be cremated and private family services held at a later date.
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