Linda Diana King passed away October 3, 2025. She was a much-loved mother, wife, daughter, sister, and friend. She was loving, funny, selfless, kind, deeply devoted to the many people she cared about, and will be greatly missed.

Linda was born May 10, 1951, to Ernest and Patsy Hamilton in Springfield, Missouri. She graduated from Willard High School in 1969. She spent most of her working years employed as a waitress, but her favorite job was being a mom.

In September of 1973, she was married to the love of her life, Bobby Lee King, in Springfield, Missouri. They were married for 29 years and had 3 children: daughter Chandra, who was stillborn, and two sons, Robert and Dustin.

She is preceded in death by her husband, Bobby King, her two parents, Ernest and Patsy Hamilton, and her daughter Chandra.

She is survived by her son Robert King, and his wife June King; her son Dustin King; her sister Brenda Roark; her brother Ernest Hamilton III; her special niece, Melissa Andrews, along with countless brothers and sisters-in law, cousins, nieces, nephews, and friends.

Linda was a special person. She loved with all her heart and always cared more about taking care of others than herself. She always looked after her brother and sister in her younger years and had many close friends. She spent many years working as a waitress, bringing smiles and joy to countless people over that time. She was a devoted wife, and her and Bobby together were as good a set of parents as a person could ask for.

It is here, in motherhood, that she found the most happiness. She was an amazing mother who would do anything for her boys. She always treated their friends as if they were her own and was always selfless in looking out for others. There are many times she would work double shifts, not so she could buy jewelry or fancy outfits, but just so her kids could afford to have the cool shoes and clothes.

She did not drive a car, so there were lots of walks to various locations around the neighborhood, such as Vaughn’s for a hamburger, or Pic n’ Pay, the local convenience store, always with one or two nieces, nephews, or neighborhood kids in tow. She was a mom to more than just her sons, being very close to both her niece Melissa, and her future daughter-in-law June. She was also a great lover of animals, especially dogs, and loved spending time with her grand-dog Dixie, who always made her smile.

She was a devout Christian, having a strong belief in God, and was a member of multiple churches over her life, most recently Trinity Missionary Church, where she enjoyed singing and communing for many years.

Later in life, 1996, she was diagnosed with a rare type of brain tumor which involved a trip to Arizona for surgery. This operation left her with impaired motor skills, and took from her much of her autonomy, but not her spirit. She relied heavily on the love and care of her husband Bobby at this time.

With the passing of her beloved husband in 2002, she began the next chapter of her life at Springfield Rehabilitation Center. She would spend the last 23 years of her life here, making lots of friends, battling and beating cancer twice, and once again bringing smiles to the faces of many people who would become like family to her. Special among these friends was Ann Wood, who would be by her side for much of that time, and who was with her when she passed.

She faced the many challenges life threw at her with toughness and resilience, never letting it defeat her sense of love, compassion, and faith. She was still always worried more about the well-being of others, even when life dealt her such an unfair hand, and hopefully she inspired those who were close enough to know her.

“Sometimes it feels like, you and me against the world
And for all the times we’ve cried
I always felt that God was on our side
And when one of us is gone
And one of us is left to carry on
Then remembering will have to do
Our memories alone will get us through
Think about the days of me and you
You and me against the world”

“You and Me Against the World” – Helen Reddy ‧ 1974

A visitation for Linda will be at 10:00 a.m. with the funeral service following at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, October 10, 2025, at Greenlawn Funeral Home North (3506 N. National Ave., Springfield, MO, 65803). Burial will be in Greenlawn Memorial Gardens after the funeral.