Linda (Crouse) Welch was a teacher

Linda Dianne (Crouse) Welch passed peacefully Wednesday, March 12, 2025 at age 76. Linda was born at Blanchard Valley Hospital on March 29, 1948 and lived in the North Baltimore and Findlay areas her whole life. Linda graduated from North Baltimore High School in 1966 where she was the recipient of the John Philip Sousa Award.

She graduated from Bluffton College with a degree in Elementary Education in 1970. She taught at Leipsic and Powell Elementary in North Baltimore. Linda took leave from teaching to raise her three children. She had planned to continue her career, but was unable to do so after she was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 1981.

Linda loved her grandchildren, cats, birdwatching, reading biographies and watching the Young and the Restless, Magnum P.I., Wheel of Fortune, and Jeopardy. She enjoyed vacationing in East Tawas, Michigan.

Linda married Kevin Welch on June 23, 1973 and he preceded her in death, as did her parents, Harold "Fuzz" and June (Smith) Crouse. She is survived by her siblings, David (John Yates) Crouse, Steve (Deb) Crouse, and Sue Crouse; her children Tara (Greg Tinkler) Smith, Jennifer (Brian) Vanlerberg, and Shawn (Sarah) Welch, and her eight grateful grandchildren, Aurora Smith, Zavier Smith, William Tinkler, Jesse Vanlerberg, Noah Vanlerberg, Levi Vanlerberg, Huxley Welch, and Eleanora Welch.

A visitation has been arranged by Smith-Crates Funeral Home in North Baltimore this Sunday, March 16, 2025 at 1:00 p.m. followed by memorial services at 2:30 p.m. Burial service will be private.

Memorials may be made to the North Baltimore Music Boosters.  Online condolences may be expressed at www.smithcrates.com/