Linda Zeigler

Linda Stone Zeigler died peacefully at her Moorestown, NJ home on August 8, 2023, with her loving husband of sixty years, John Zeigler, and her family by her side. She is predeceased by her father and mother, Allen M. Stone and Dorothy Dolaway, as well as her sisters Dorothy McKissick and Ann Heiss and her niece Wendy Albertson. Linda’s greatest joy and inspiration was her family. She leaves behind a legacy of love in her dear husband John, their four children: Kimberly Beam (Jeff), Lisa Doyle (Mike), Tracey Gural (Mike), and Mac Zeigler (Linda); eleven grandchildren: Allyson (Dan), Danny (Casey), Mary, Hannah, Bridget, Michael, Thomas, Nicholas, Kelsey, Hailey, and Kaitlyn; and three great-grandchildren: Jackson, Emerson and Collins. She is also survived by her nieces and nephews: Richard, Janice, Betsy, Tucker, and Allen who were raised alongside her and her sister Ann, by her oldest sister. Dorothy helped her father raise her younger sisters when the girls lost their mother (Linda was just two years old at the time). In addition, she is survived by her nephew Scott Heiss and brothers-in-law Bud Heiss and Ernie Zeigler. She will be missed by a myriad of close friends and family. Linda treasured her life with John, her high school sweetheart. Linda and John settled in Willingboro, NJ, in 1967. While being a stay-at-home mother to their four children, she also quickly became an integral part of the Willingboro community as a Brownie and Girl Scout Troop leader, substitute teacher, and member of the Methodist Church. Linda’s greatest joy and passion was her family. If her family needed her, she moved mountains to be there for them. She loved having everyone together celebrating birthdays, holidays, and special celebrations. Her favorite memories were the yearly vacations she planned for the whole family in Ocean City, NJ. She never missed an event for her children or grandchildren. She attended countless sporting events, concerts, and plays along with pre-proms, graduations, and visits to colleges. She was so proud of them all. Education was another one of her great passions, and she knew early on that she would become a teacher. After moving to Moorestown in 1978, Linda finally completed her dream to be a teacher and graduated from Trenton State College with her BA in Education. She was so happy to be able to raise her children in the wonderful Moorestown community and quickly became an active community member. Her and John’s first mission in town was to get a girls’ soccer program started both in the town (a travel team) and at the high school. In the fall of 1980, girls’ soccer had their first season in the high school and the first girls’ travel soccer team, the Moorestown Blazers, began their first of many seasons. Linda and her assistant coach, Gail, led the Blazers to many winning seasons and tournaments. Their biggest accomplishment was winning the Willingboro Invitational Soccer Tournament. When not coaching, she was the biggest and loudest cheerleader. Many people knew she was there before seeing her! Linda was a force of nature since she was little – incredible in so many ways. She was so caring, kind, and giving. As a teacher, she extended that spirit to her students and their families as well as her colleagues. She was a valued colleague who could always be counted on to provide sound guidance. She always saw the big picture and worked hard for the school community. She valued education and championed fairness, equality, and equity for all students. As a teacher and tutor for over thirty-five years, she touched many young lives and found true joy in knowing she could and did make a difference in their lives. She was a rigorous, but loving and fair teacher. Working tirelessly to help those in need, she seemed to have boundless energy. She continued to keep in touch with many of her past students from Beverly and Moorestown, where she spent most of her teaching years. Linda retired from Moorestown Schools as a 6th grade math teacher in 2011 but continued to tutor and share her love of math until 2019. Her drive and passion for getting the best education possible for all inspired her to run for the School Board. She served on the MTPS School Board for several years including terms as Vice-President and President. When she wasn’t teaching or with her family, she could be found at her kitchen table sharing a cup of tea with friends, doing crossword and Sudoku puzzles and chatting on the phone. Anyone who knew her, knew that she loved to talk, and nothing was a short conversation. She was very sociable and loved spending time with her friends, always interested in what was happening in their lives and helping in any way that she could. A pot of the Queen’s favorite tea was always ready to be brewed and a tin of butter cookies lay ready to be shared with any who visited. There was always room for one more at her table. We will remember her generous spirit and warm, bright light. She made a loving difference in so many lives. Linda will shine in our hearts forever. Funeral service Monday 11:30 am at the First United Methodist , 446 Camden Ave. Moorestown, NJ Visitation Monday 10:30 to 11:00 am at the Church. Interment Private. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that you please consider a donation to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital, Samaritan Hospice, or a children’s hospital of your choice.