By Doug Spencer
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  • Visitation

    Friday, October 18, 2024
    10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
    Ingram Meridith Funeral Home - West Salem, IL

  • Service

    Friday, October 18, 2024
    11:00 a.m.
    Graveside Service - Moravian Cemetery, West Salem, IL

    Celebration of Life Service will follow at 2:00 pm - First Christian Church in Mt. Carmel, IL with reception afterwards

  • Full Obituary

    Linda (Lodwig) Chenoweth, 81, of Edwards County, passed from this life to her heavenly home on October 13, 2024 at Reflections Memory Care Residence in Mt. Carmel, IL.

    She was born on March 21, 1943 in Edwards County, IL to Leslie (Bud) Lodwig and Thelma (Seals) Lodwig. She graduated from Edwards County High School and attended the University of Illinois in Urbana. While earning her BS degree in Home Economics, she met and married Amos Chenoweth, an Engineering student at the university, on August 9, 1964. After graduation, she served as director of a Project Head Start preschool in Champaign, IL, one of the first integrated Head Start preschools. During their early years of marriage, Linda devoted her time to caring for their children, teaching preschool classes, and serving as a volunteer in their church. As their children grew, Linda felt a call to full-time ministry in the church. She returned to school and earned her Master of Divinity degree at Eden Theological Seminary in St. Louis, MO in 1983. Following graduation, she was ordained as a minister in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) on May 22, 1983. Her first ministry after ordination was as a chaplain to the Emergency Children's Home in St. Louis, a home for battered and at-risk children. She then served as an interim ministry specialist in a number of churches in the state of Missouri. She also served as a called minister in Christian Churches (Disciples of Christ) in Missouri, Nebraska, and Florida before retiring in 2006. In addition to serving local churches, she also served the larger church as a board member of the Disciples of Christ Historical Society.

    Linda loved community and had a gift for hospitality. Wherever she lived she would find or help form communities of caring. She loved the holidays and any excuse to decorate, make special food, start a new “tradition" and entertain. She passed this tradition on to her children and grandchildren. Her love of the arts expressed itself in her home and in her passion for quilts and fabric. Linda was an avid reader and could always be found with a tote bag full of books of theology, history, quilting magazines and a crossword puzzle. She shared her love of books with her grandchildren and made sure their bookshelves were stocked with beautiful books representing diverse peoples and cultures. She delighted in her family and in the lives of her children and grandchildren.

    She is survived by her husband, Amos and her two daughters, DeAnne (Joe Hinshaw) Chenoweth of Harrisonburg, VA, and Sarah (Clark) West of Wadsworth, OH; along with five grandchildren Bethany Hinshaw, Carolyn Hinshaw, Cecilia West, Anne West, and Amos West. She is also survived by several siblings – Janis Spath, Ed Lodwig, Nancy Roth, Barbara Northern, and Stephen Lodwig.

    She is preceded in death by her parents, two siblings – Charles Lodwig and Mary Blackwood, and a son, John Chenoweth, who died as an infant.

    Memorials may be made to: First Christian Church, 803 N. Market St., Mt. Carmel, IL 62863.

    Visitation will be held from 10:00 am to 11:00 am on Friday, October 18 at Ingram Meridith Funeral Home in West Salem, IL.

    Interment to follow immediately afterward at the Moravian Cemetery in West Salem, IL. Celebration of Life Service will follow at 2:00 pm at First Christian Church in Mt. Carmel, IL with reception afterwards. Rev. Jim Bisch officiating.

    Ingram Meridith Funeral Home of West Salem, IL.

Condolences are reviewed and published within 24 hours.

8 Condolences
 
  1. Alberta Mason Jenner / October 14, 2024 at 6:36 pm

    Linda was a wonderful friend throughout our school days at West Salem Grade School I admired her intelligence and ability to make everyone feel special.
    My sympathy to Amos and her famiily.

  2. Curtis Ingram / October 15, 2024 at 9:06 am

    It is great to remember Linda and the kindness and compassion she had toward us all. We feel sure you will find comfort and strength in knowing she was something special to each one she met. Sympathy and love from Curtis & Dolores Ingram.

  3. Stephanie Sorge / October 15, 2024 at 10:23 am

    All of us at Trinity in Harrisonburg are holding the family in love and prayer. We have been so blessed by Linda’s legacy through her amazing daughter, DeAnne, her family, and the many ways they minister to our community and beyond.

  4. Marc Runyon / October 16, 2024 at 11:47 am

    Amos, DeAnne, and Sarah, this is Marc Runyon from way back in Hamilton Christian Church days in the 80s. I remember you and Linda fondly and pray for the hope and healing of God’s Spirit to be with you in abundance. Sarah, I am pastor at Central Christian Church just down in Warren, Ohio. I’d love to get together!

  5. June Roberson / October 17, 2024 at 1:04 am

    Nancy, Barbara, and all the Lodwig family. I remember Linda from my childhood days staying with the family in West Salem. I’m so sorry for your loss. Although I didn’t know her as an adult, she sounds like a wonderful person and I know she will be greatly missed. I’d love to reconnect with any of you who remember me. Your cousin, June Lenear Roberson. Email darjar72@yahoo.com. I’m so sorry I cannot attend her service on Friday and talk to you in person. My thoughts and prayers will be with you as you lay your loved one to rest.

  6. Michael Ciortea / October 17, 2024 at 11:44 am

    Amos, Steve, Barbara, Nancy,
    Please accept our deep sympathy for Linda’s passing. We remember fondly the happy times we had together with all of you and her during your family visits to our home in Los Angeles. She was an amazing person, dedicated to helping others, above all. It’s like yesterday that I was in the West Salem church pews while Linda officiated my sister’s Ligia and Steve’s wedding. Let us remember Linda for the happiness she brought to those around her.
    May God Bless Her Soul
    Mihai and Dorothy Ciortea

  7. Ion Hentea / October 17, 2024 at 3:11 pm

    Although we met only once, we were impressed by the warmth and sincerity with which he spoke to us. Sincere condolences to the family.
    Stefana and Ion

  8. Adam Julia Rita / October 23, 2024 at 3:12 pm

    Condoleances to the Lodwig family, to Amos, DeAnne and Sarah.

    Linda was very nice to me when I was in West Salem. I am grateful to have met her.

    Her kindness and love touched so many. Rest in peace.

    Julia

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