Linda Kay Tarpley

“My name is Linda Kay and…”

If you know how that sentence ends, you truly knew Linda Kay Tarpley.

Sophisticated, sharp, and steadfast, Linda was a force. On August 6, 2026, she departed this earth to be with the Lord, leaving behind a legacy of love and devotion that will remain for many years to come.

Born to Willie and Florine Townsend in Memphis, Tennessee on March 24, 1951, Linda spent her early childhood in the south before her family joined The Great Migration north, settling in Lorain, Ohio for a good-paying opportunity in the automotive industry. After graduating from Admiral King High School in 1969, she launched what would become a 39-year career in customer service in northeast Ohio.

Fisher Foods, Fazio’s (Stop ‘n Shop), Rini-Rego, and ultimately Giant Eagle; the name changed over the years, but Linda’s standard of excellence and care never wavered. As a proud member of UFCW Local 880, she treated every customer with kindness and respect. It didn't matter if neighboring checkout lanes were wide open; generations of shoppers happily waited in Linda's line just to share a moment, a smile, and a conversation. She retired from Giant Eagle in Amherst in 2008, leaving a memorable mark on her community.

Whether at the grocery store or her favorite department store, Linda loved to shop. She rarely passed up a good deal and the opportunity to tell others about the bargain. More quietly, she offered comfort to grieving families. Whether she knew them or not, Linda would stand along the processional route to the cemetery holding a handwritten sign, often featuring a clever phrase, hobby, or nickname that honored the life being remembered.

Guided by a deep and abiding faith, Linda accepted Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior at an early age and dedicated more than 50 years of service to Friendship Baptist Church in Lorain. Over the decades, she served faithfully as a Sunday School teacher, usher, trustee, and church treasurer. True to her generous spirit, Linda made one last gift through Lifebanc to help save and heal others.

Above all, Linda’s heart belonged to her family. Her most treasured titles were wife, mother, sister, aunt, and friend. She leaves to cherish her memory, her devoted husband, Namon M. Tarpley, her beloved daughter, Tiffany T. (Jason) Russell; her sister, Princella Townsend; brothers, Floyd (Valorie) Townsend and Willie “Sweet” Townsel Sr.; alongside beloved nieces, nephews, and friends.

Linda was joyfully reunited in Heaven with her parents, Willie and Florine Townsend; her brothers, Lynn Jay Townsend (her twin,) Gordon Townsend, and Charles Woods; plus her sisters, Freddi J. Townsend, Emma Lenton, Alnetta Crosby, and Cassandra J. Townsend.

The family will receive visitors at Friendship Baptist Church, 2160 Reeves Avenue, Lorain, OH on Saturday, August 22, 2026, at 10:00 AM until the Celebration of Life at 11:30 AM. Following the service, interment will take place at Elmwood Cemetery, 640 N. Ridge Road, Lorain OH 44053.

Months before her passing, Linda shared a meaningful wish: to support an incredible mission and provide bedding for children in need. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made in Linda Kay Tarpley’s name to Good Knights, a 501(c)(3) organization providing complete, comfortable, and safe beds to local children: https://goodknightsoflc.org/donate/