Linda H. Isom
25 Apr 1948 - 3 Mar 2002
I had the opportunity to spend a couple of weeks during the summer with Craig & Linda when they lived in Fallbrook, CA. We spent hours playing Shanghi Rummy, which required 3 decks of cards. I had a cast on my wrist and couldn't bend my wrist. When it came my turn to shuffle, she wouldn't help me. Have you ever tried to shuffle when your wrist won't bend and you only have use of part of your fingers? We laughed and laughed at my trying to shuffle the cards. I did finally master it though! It was fun to go shopping with her, we had many laughs and good times shopping.
When Craig and Linda lived in their trailer by us out on Decatur, sometimes I would go with her early in the morning to play tennis with Ann, Joyce, she, and I. I think we spent more time laughing and chasing the ball than we actually played tennis and of course more shopping for bargains.
One time Craig and I were out in the desert in the jeep going through the "big" wash just south of the house. Well, he got it high centered and sent me to get the truck, and I didn't have a license to drive yet. Thank goodness Linda had just returned home, I told her what had happened, she smiled and said, "come on, get in the truck, we'll rescue him..."
One year they had a permit to cut their Christmas tree and they invited me to go with them. There was a bit of snow on the ground, but not to be deterred on the mission at hand, Craig drove up the mountain, circled different trees asking, "How's this one honey? Don't like it? Okay, lets check this one!" And he would drive around another. Sometimes we slid around, were at steep angles and we were clenching our teeth, holding on for dear life, smiling and laughing all at the same time.
When Craig was in the hospital after returning home from Viet Nam, we, (Dad, Mom and some of the kids), went to visit him at Camp Pendleton. Linda had a room she was staying in and Mom and Dad let me stay with her one night. It was like having a big sister to visit with and she taught me how to use those BIG rollers, or empty juice cans to curl my hair so it wouldn't be so flat.
Shortly after I became engaged to Greg, I was over visiting with Craig and Linda and Craig asked me if Greg and I had ever had a fight yet. I replied "no" that we hadn't and he said, "Well how do you know you can get along and be married if you haven't had a good fight and work through it." Linda came to my resuce and said, "Craig, not everyone has to have a good fight like you do, just leave her alone."
It meant alot to me when I was engaged to be married that she gave me a bridal shower and put a little book together with the cards and thoughts and advice from the people who attended.
One time when Greg was out of town for work, Linda asked me to ride to Arizona with her. So Kristen and I went with she and Danny in the little bug and met Craig there. We had a lot of fun along the way.
Life has it's ups and downs and we get busy in our lives and don't spend as much time with those we love as we would like, but I hold dear the many fond memories I have of Linda. In a conversation with Craig I told him he had a good wife and that any woman who was married to an Isom had to be a good woman. I add that my husband would probably say that any man who married and Isom had to be a good man! We both concurred that she deserved a medal of honor for all she went through.
She never really said a lot or showed a lot of anger, she often would smile and shake her head, although she was stubborn and you knew when she was angry. I think she needed those attributes to deal with what life's trials were dealt her.
After years of searching for this newspaper article, I have FINALLY located it. I wrote to the Library of Congress and asked a librarian for help and withing two days they sent this article to me! I had a copy of the photo but not the actual article. I hope you enjoy this as much as I do. 
