Linda Ruth Ethridge

Linda Harrell Ethridge, of Waco, Texas passed away Saturday, May 8, 2021, at the age of 78. The family will receive visitors from 6:00 to 8:00 PM, Tuesday, May 11, at Wilkirson-Hatch-Bailey funeral home. She was born September 1, 1942, to Charles and Clara Harrell in Knoxville, Tennessee. She attended Fulton High School, Carson-Newman College, and The University of Tennessee, where she received a Bachelor of Arts degree. She married her loving husband, J. Kendall Ethridge, on March 27, 1965. They lived in Coco Beach, Florida for several years before moving to Memphis, Tennessee where Ken attended medical school. During her time in Memphis, she and her husband had three children. She moved to Waco, Texas in the summer of 1979, where she became an active member of the community. She participated in many local civic organizations and served on the Waco Independent School District board from 1984-1990. Linda served as a Waco City Councilwoman from 1993-2000, and as Waco’s mayor from 2000-2004. Her time as mayor is best known for improvements in Waco’s water supply, specifically raising Lake Waco and stopping pollution by confined animal feeding operations in Erath County. She is preceded in death by her husband, J. Kendall Ethridge; brothers, Charles Harrell Jr. and Wendall David Harrell; and sister, June Anne Atchley. She is survived by son and daughter-in-law, J.K. Ethridge Jr. and Tina Ethridge, of Springfield, Missouri; son, Frank Ethridge, of Raleigh, North Carolina; son and daughter-in-law, Bill and Maria Ethridge, of Portland, Oregon; five grandchildren, and five nieces and nephews. In lieu of flowers, the family asks those who wish to do so to make a contribution to the charity of their choice in Linda’s name. The family invites you to leave a message or memory on our “Tribute Wall” at www.WHBfamily.com.