Linda Joyner Johns Memorial

Linda Joyner Johns was a beloved friend and colleague at Ozarks Technical Community College (OTC) who showed the utmost passion towards higher education and serving students before her passing in 2022.

Linda married the love of her life, Jeff Johns, in 1991 and in 1995 began her favorite and most rewarding role as a stay-at-home mom, caring for her daughter Lyndsey and son Daniel. As a mother, she shared her encouragement, loving spirit, sense of humor and most importantly, love for the Lord. In 2007, she began working at OTC’s Financial Aid Department, eventually advancing to Director of State and Institutional Programs. Linda worked tirelessly to help students she believed in by finding scholarships, grants, and other resources at the college. Linda loved hiking, capturing nature with her camera at National Parks and laying on the beach during family vacations. Spending time with her family was always a priority.

She will be incredibly missed, but the positive impact she’s had on the lives of others will continue to live on in the actions of those inspired by her example and in the lives of students impacted by the Linda Joyner Johns Memorial Scholarship, established by her family, friends, and coworkers to help address students’ financial need and challenges including housing insecurity, single parenthood, and incarceration.

Future OTC students who are yet to be born will benefit from Linda’s kind spirit and the generosity she inspired.

Obituary:

Linda Joyner Johns, 56, of Ozark, Missouri, passed away Thursday, March 31, 2022, at St. Louis University Hospital, from complications caused by Leukemia. Linda was born on December 25, 1965, in Des Moines, Iowa, to Goff and Wilma Joyner. She attended Manatee High School in Bradenton, Florida, received her bachelor’s degree from the University of South Florida and master’s degree from Missouri State University.

She married the love of her life, Jeff Johns, on October 11, 1991, in Bradenton, Florida. In 1995, she began her favorite and most rewarding role as a stay-at-home mom for her daughter, Lyndsey Rodabaugh (now 26) and son, Daniel Johns (now 24). As a mother, she shared her encouragement, loving spirit, sense of humor and most importantly, love for the Lord. In 2007, she began working at Ozarks Technical Community College (OTC). At OTC, she had various roles in the Financial Aid Department and advanced to Director of State and Institutional Programs. She loved serving students and helping them achieve their goals.

Linda loved hiking, capturing nature with her camera at National Parks and laying on the beach during family vacations. Spending time with her family was always a priority.

Linda is preceded in death by her sister, Barbara Joyner; brother, Bruce Joyner; father, Goff Joyner; and mother, Wilma Joyner.

Linda is survived by her husband, Jeff, of Ozark, Missouri; daughter and son-in-law, Lyndsey and Ben Rodabaugh, of Stillwater, Oklahoma; son, Daniel, of Springfield, Missouri; and sister and brother-in-law, Debbie and Alan Sherman, of Clearwater Beach, Florida.

Services will be held at Greenlawn Funeral Home East in Springfield, Missouri, on Saturday April 9th. Visitation will be at 10:00 a.m. followed by the Memorial Service at 11:00 a.m. Graveside service will be held at Greenlawn North cemetery. A reception will be held later Saturday afternoon with details provided at the service.