OBIT: Linda E. HOOPER, 1918, Altoona, Blair County, PA

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MISS LINDA E. HOOPER SUMMONED BY DEATH
Popular and Well Known Retired High School Teacher Succumbs to Heart 
Trouble

  Miss Linda E. Hooper, one of the best known school teachers in this 
section of the state, a retired member of the local high school faculty 
and an esteemed resident of the city for many years, died at 11:45 
o'clock Tuesday night at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Claude K. Stahl, 2011 
Fifth street.  The news of her demise came as a shock to her wide 
circle of friends in the city and vicinity.  She had been in poor 
health for the past several years with valvular heart trouble, the 
disease that was the cause of her death.
  Miss Hooper was born in Philadelphia, was the daughter of William H. 
and Eleanor Hooper, deceased, and was aged 63 years.  She was reared 
and educated in her native city and was a graduate of the Philadelphia 
Normal school for girls.  She came to this city in 1872 and was chosen 
a teacher in 1873 in the primary grade of the city schools then located 
at Seventh avenue and Fifteenth street.  She was elected a teacher for 
the high school, then located in the present Webster building, in 1878, 
and continued a member of the high school faculty until her retirement 
at the close of the 1914-1915 term on June 6, 1915.  She taught in the 
high school when it was located in the Emerson and the present Central 
Grammar buildings.  There were but two teachers when she was first 
elected to the high school faculty, and when she retired it numbered 
forty teachers.  She had the distinction of having taught the first 
class in literature in 1879 and also with having been the instructor in 
every department with the exception of higher mathematics and foreign 
languages. She supervised the arrangement of the commencement programs 
and exercises of the high school for many years, up until her 
retirement.  It is estimated that more than sixty per cent. of the 
present teaching corps of the city schools came under her supervision 
for instruction during their school days.  Several thousand boys and 
girls of the city were her scholars during her career at the high 
school and by the great majority she was respected and beloved for her 
kindly attention, her personal interest and her always cheerful 
disposition. She was the great friend of all her scholars and was ever 
ready to give her ear to any of their requests for assistance in the 
working out of their school problems, either in the school room or at 
her home, which was at 1123 Seventh avenue for many years.  On her 
retirement she was tendered a farewell reception by her former students 
in the high school building and the event was largely attended and 
singularly the only one of its kind ever tendered a teacher here.
  Miss Hooper was for many years a member of the Second Lutheran 
church, was an active worker in the congregation and served as organist 
for many years. She was a musician of no mean ability and arranged many 
cantatas for presentation during the holiday season.  Several years ago 
she withdrew from the Lutheran church and became affiliated with the 
Eighth Avenue Methodist church.  She was also a member of the Berean 
Bible class and was chairman of the music committee and director of the 
choir.
  She was the last surviving member of her family, a brother George 
preceding her to the grave some years ago.  The only near relatives 
surviving are an uncle, Dr. Milton M. Bryan, of 100 East Third avenue, 
and an aunt, Mrs. Jennie Bryan, of Green avenue and Eighth street.
  The remains will be removed to her late home, 1123 Seventh avenue, 
and may be viewed there by friends today or Friday.  The funeral will 
take place Saturday afternoon, services to be conducted at the house at 
2 o'clock. Interment will be made in Oak Ridge cemetery.

Altoona Tribune, Thursday, January 2, 1919, page 12