Linda Homan (Heiser)

Linda, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, aunt, cousin, and friend, passed away peacefully on September 9, 2026, at the age of 86. She was born on August 30, 1940, to Joseph and Pearl Heiser in Dayton, Ohio. She will be forever remembered by her husband, William (Duke); her daughters, Lisa Adkins (John) and Lorie DeFries (William); her sons, Greg Homan and Steve Homan; her three grandchildren, Rachel Adkins (Cami), Mallory Woods, and Eric Woods (Samantha); and her extended family members and friends.

As a child, you could find Linda lacing up her roller skates, playing jacks, or braving the biggest coasters at Coney Island. After graduating from Wilbur Wright High School in 1958, she worked for the NCR Credit Union as a loan officer assistant. She married Duke in 1962, and together they shared nearly 64 wonderful years.

Linda’s heart belonged entirely to her family and community. A proud mother of four and an adoring grandmother, she was a constant beacon of love and support. Whether cheering from the sidelines at athletic games or admiring their talents from the audience at school and church programs, she was deeply woven into every step of their lives. Her love for bringing people together extended to the game table and the kitchen. She always looked forward to a good Holy Trinity bingo afternoon with her sister, Beverly, and the Heiser family. At Indiana family reunions, her famous fried chicken was always the star of the table, and her kitchen was the heart of every holiday—announced each year by the aroma of her delicious pumpkin bread and chocolate marshmallow fudge. Her pride shined through every celebration, no matter how small—she found a way to make everyone feel welcome and special. Her steady support carried her family through life's challenging moments. To know her was to love her.

Whether teaching someone how to bait a hook and cast a fishing line, mastering the art of building a garden while keeping sneaky critters at bay, sharing her love of card games (and winning), or finishing a jigsaw puzzle with patient determination, Linda found deep joy in sharing life's simple moments. Guided by her faith and love of helping others—from her work in the school systems and her lifelong devotion to her church communities (formerly Spinning Road Baptist and currently Shiloh United Church of Christ) to her years in the Grandmothers Club and volunteering with the Muscular Dystrophy Association—she leaves behind a legacy of lasting love.

She will be deeply missed and will live on in the hearts of all who were blessed to know her. A special thank you to the staff, nurses, and aides at Stonespring who cared for her during these final months.

A memorial service honoring and celebrating Linda's life will be held on Wednesday, September 23, 2026 at Shiloh United Church of Christ (5300 Philadelphia Drive, Dayton, OH 45415) at 6pm. Visitation will be held prior to the service from 4:30pm-6pm at the church. She will be laid to rest at Dayton Memorial Park Cemetery during a private ceremony on Thursday, September 24, 2026.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Dayton Children's Hospital or Hospice of Dayton in Linda's memory.