Linda K. Waite, 76, of Union City, passed away Tuesday, June 1, 2021 at Bronson Battle Creek Hospital.
A funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, June 5, 2021 at Our Savior Lutheran Church in Union City, with Pastor Peter Burfeind officiating. Interment will follow at Riverside Cemetery in Union City.
Visitation will be held from 4:00 p.m.-7:00 p.m. Friday, June 4, 2021 at Lighthouse Funeral & Cremation in Union City.
Linda was born January 23, 1945 in Coldwater, Michigan to Dewane and Letah (Mowrey) AcMoody. She grew up in Union City and enjoyed showing horses when she was young. She was crowned homecoming queen at Union City High School in the fall of 1962 and graduated with the Class of 1963. On September 26, 1965 she married Don Waite at Our Savior Lutheran Church. He survives.
Linda attended the Kellogg Community College nursing program, from which she graduated as an LPN. She worked as a nurse at Dr. William K. Stewart’s office.
In 1975 Linda began working as a dispatcher for the Union City Police Department and served as Chief of Police from 1983-2000. She was only the second female chief in Michigan. She reformed the police department through aggressive policies, hiring practices, recruitment, wage adjustments, equipment, and even brought in police car cameras way before they were “standard.” Linda’s achievements were recognized by the State of Michigan. She sat on the 911 Board and was integral to bringing the 911 system to the area.
She later worked as a part-time utility clerk for Union City, until retiring in 2021. Her 46 years with the Village made her the second-longest tenured Union City employee.
Linda was a lifelong member of Our Savior Lutheran Church, where she was active in the ladies group and always made pies for the annual sauerkraut supper. She liked doing gardening, sewing, baking and cooking for her family and going to their place up north in Hoxeyville, near Cadillac. She enjoyed the family’s Dutch Oven Cookouts on Labor Day.
Linda had a way of making everybody feel loved. Her grandchildren were the great light of her life and she also loved spending time with her great-grandchildren.
In addition to her husband, Don, Linda is survived by their children, LuAnn (Dale) Dolph of Union City, Bradley (Melanie) Waite of Ceresco, Joanie (Martin) Bowers of Battle Creek, Matthew Waite of Union City and Jill (Brian) McCombs of Union City; grandchildren, Jessica (Alex) Lane, Alison (Christopher) Onofrio, Nathan Waite, Tauren (Lorna) Wells, Jacey Bowers, Jack McCombs and Annabelle McCombs; step-grandchildren, Ryan (Jen) Bowers and Hannah Murray; great-grandchildren, Vivian, Max and Charlie Lane, Leonardo and Ramona Onofrio, and Kanaan, Lawson, Navy and Banner Wells; four step-great-grandchildren; her siblings, Phyllis (Tom) Gillette of Union City, Vernon (Janice) AcMoody of Union City and Brian (Kelly) AcMoody of Union City; and many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents and a brother, Neil AcMoody.
Memorial donations are suggested to Ladies of Our Savior Lutheran Church, 405 St. Joseph Street, Union City, MI 49094.
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