Obituary for Estella Linthicum

Estella Maude Linthicum

July 10, 1923 – May 20, 2018

Life is a journey, not a destination!

Estella Maude Snodgrass Spangler Linthicum’s journey ended and she reached her destination at 2:00 a.m. on Sunday, May 20, 2018 when the gates to Heaven were opened for her to join family members waiting there for her.

Maude, or Aunt Maude as she was affectionately known by many, began her journey July 10, 1923 at the Snodgrass homestead south of Red Rock, Oklahoma. She was the sixth of seven children born to Emmett A. and Estella May Eschliman Snodgrass. Her early education was obtained at Lilly School in rural Red Rock. She graduated from Red Rock High School in 1941.

Maude was introduced to her spouse, Rex Spangler, by her brother-in-law, Lawrence Evans. They were married on December 22, 1941. Rex was drafted into the US Army and served a tour of duty in Germany during World War II. Rex and Maude enjoyed almost 56 years together before his passing on September 18, 1997. They were blessed with a son, Danny Lee, on March 9, 1944 while Rex was stationed at Ft. Polk, Louisiana and a daughter, Linda Darlene, on July 5, 1947.

Rex and Maude made their home in Marland after his discharge from the Army. Maude was very proud of the fact that she was the oldest living resident of the town until she move to her daughter’s home in August of 2016.

Maude’s employment as a cook for the Marland School lasted 35 years before the school consolidated with Red Rock (Frontier School) where she was employed for two more years before retiring in 1991. Even today, former students rave about the school lunches at Marland, especially the stew, chicken and noodles, cinnamon rolls and homemade bread. They wished they had the recipes since they couldn’t have the real thing.

Maude and Rex enjoyed going on the Marland Round-Up Club trail rides even though they didn’t ride horses. They just liked the fellowship and she always had a pot of coffee ready for anyone who stopped by. She was Secretary of the club for many years. She was always willing to do her share and more to help the town of Marland. Whether it was buying a picnic table and benches for the park, or a tree to be planted there in memory of her husband, who was a former Chairman of the board. Maude was instrumental in hosting a haunted house for kids and adults at the Marland Volunteer Fire Station, even dressing as a ghost. Maude served as Clerk and substitute Post Master at the Marland Post Office during the 80’s and 90’s.

Maude, her sister, May Evans, and her co-worker at school, Frances Rhoades, were named “Spirit Girls” at the Marland Alumni School Reunion in 1998. Though none of them attended school at Marland, their enthusiasm for the school and town was contagious. They were featured in several parades in surrounding towns. Even though Macular Degeneration took her eyesight and she was declared legally blind, that didn’t slow her down. She still baked cobblers and helped with many fundraisers and bereavement dinners.

Maude and her sister, May, used to say, “We are just like dogs, leave the car door open long enough and we will get in.” She loved taking trips with her nieces and their friends, whether it be a day trip or longer. It didn’t matter if they were looking for specialty fabric or attending 4-H, FFA, or school events for her great-great niece or great-great-great nieces, she always had money for “happy hour” at Sonic for everyone.

Maude and Keith Linthicum renewed their acquaintance from Red Rock High School and enjoyed many years traveling back and forth from his home in Maryland to Marland. They traveled in a trailer to Texas several years and other places in the United States. They were married on August 7, 2004 in Marland and continued to divide their time between the two homes. Keith passed January 6, 2010 and Maude returned to Marland.

She joined the Bliss Homemakers group in 2011. Maude said she had felt like a member for years as she attended meetings and events with her nieces so it was time to pay her membership. She helped stuff comfort pillows for patients undergoing treatment for breast cancer just three months ago. She and her sister, May, were Superintendents in the Hobby Department at the Noble County Fair for several years before her departure to Maryland.

Maude enjoyed playing cards with a group of friends, “The Monday Firehouse Gang” at the Marland Volunteer Fire Station. Though her vision was impaired, she still played a mean hand of cards. Her journeys were many and she made the most of every one of them. She will be really missed by her family and her many friends. Maude loved life and life loved her.

She leaves behind her daughter, Linda and husband Richard Rennie; step-son, Roger and Patty Linthicum; daughter-in-law, Marsha Spangler; grand-children, Dwayne and Tara Spangler, Dustin Spangler, Gaytha and Greg Sebor, Bob and Marie Clover, Mike and Pinky Clover, Scott and Debra Rennie, Robert Rameriz, John Rameriz, Chandra and Rob Sniveley, Keith Linthicum, Roger Linthicum Jr., Kristin Warner, and a host of great-grandchildren and great-great grandchildren along with many nieces and nephews.

Preceding her in death were her husbands, her parents, her son, and siblings, Bill Snodgrass, Hershel Snodgrass, Irma Dunfee, May Evans, Harvey Snodgrass and Ruth McAllister.

Memorials in her memory may be made to Hospice of North Central Oklahoma, 445 Fairview Ave., Ponca City, OK 74601 or the Marland Methodist-Christian Church, PO Box 486, Marland, OK 74644.

The family will greet visitors on Wednesday, May 23, 2018 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Trout Funeral Home & Crematory. A graveside ceremony will be held Thursday, May 24, 2018 at 10:00 a.m. at Resthaven Memorial Park in Ponca City with Reverend Chris Short officiating.

Arrangements are under the direction of Trout Funeral Home & Crematory in Ponca City.

Source: Trout Funeral Home