Linda Elizabeth McSparren

Hartsville, S.C.

Mrs. Linda Elizabeth McSparren, widow of Mr. William Iva McSparren, age 82, passed away September 29 while at the Legacy in Hartsville with her loving family by her side.

Graveside services will be held 3:00pm Monday, October 2, 2023 at Magnolia Cemetery.  Visitation of Remembrance will be held 1:00-2:30pm Monday afternoon at Norton Funeral Home.  Mr. Rick Moore and Mrs. Roberta Jones will be speaking at the graveside service.

Linda was one of 3 siblings born in Englewood, N.J. to the late George and Elizabeth (Truedson) Koster. She graduated from Bergenfield High School in 1959 and began a banking career with the First National City Bank in New York City.  She married the late Edward R. Stumpf in 1965, joining him as he pursued his career as a Diplomat with the U.S. Department of State.  During those years Linda gave birth to a son and twin daughters while traveling to countries around the world.  She resided in Bangladesh, Israel, Kenya and India as well as visited numerous other parts of Europe, Africa, and the Middle East.  Linda returned to the U.S. in 1986 settling in Chapel Hill and eventually Hillsborough, North Carolina.  She married the late William I. McSparren in 1987 and in 1999 she moved to Hartsville to be close to her daughter and grandchildren.

Linda loved the ocean, spending many happy summers throughout her life at her family’s bungalow at Barley Point Island, N.J. She had a passion for all flowers and plants; she could get even the most difficult plant to thrive in her care.  She adored all animals but reserved a special place in her heart for horses; during her time overseas she owned and loved many horses. She enjoyed spending time at her daughter’s farm in the company of numerous horses and a wide variety of other animals!  Linda took great pleasure in musical theater even performing in several local productions while overseas. The choir and her church family became a deeply important part of her life once she moved to Hartsville. She attended Lakeview Baptist Church and developed a close relationship with the Lord that continued to nourish her into the very moment of her earthly departure. Before her health began to decline Linda volunteered with many organizations to include Carolina Pines Hospital and the American Heritage Girls.

Linda also enjoyed the friendship of so many wonderful people who brought joy and love to her life.  The family would like to recognize the special friendship of Mr. Joseph Budzinski who provided Linda with such incredible companionship.  Joe’s devotion to her care in these last years of declining health has meant the world to her daughters; he will always remain a part of Linda’s family. The family would like to thank Mrs. Roberta Jones who also shared such loving friendship and comfort even to the very moment of Linda’s passing. A special thank you to Karen Lukridge and all the staff at The Legacy of Hartsville.  They gave Linda a wonderful home with patience, joy, and love for the last 18 months of her life.

Left to cherish Linda’s memory are her daughters, Joanne (Rob) Ludwick, Diana (Toby) Stumpf, her son Bradley (Jessica) Stumpf, her brother Richard (Elise) Koster, 6 Grandchildren – Casey, Erika, Zachary, Matthew, Hope, Faith, as well as many cherished Nieces and Nephews to include Helmute (Betty) Bohringer and Peter (Aprill) Bohringer of Long Island, New York.

In lieu of flowers memorials can be made in her honor to the Parkinson’s Foundation or the Michael J. Fox Parkinson’s Foundation.

Norton Funeral Home and Crematory are honored to be of service to the McSparren family.