Linda (Coffelt) Petersen

Linda Petersen passed away peacefully at home in Carmel, CA, after a battle with Lymphoma. Linda was born on May 27, 1946, in Huntington, AR, to William (Ed) and Mary Coffelt. After growing up in the south, Linda's father, a coal miner and construction worker moved ahead of the family to Oakridge, OR. A year later, at age 11, Linda, her older sister JoAnn, and their mother moved to the Northwest, transporting all their possessions via cross-country train.

Upon graduation from high school in Oakridge, OR in 1964, Linda took a brave step out into the world, traveling alone by bus to Eugene, OR, to attend an administrative professional business school. Linda graduated from the University of Oregon in 1970, obtaining her Bachelor's and Master's Degrees in Education. Serendipitously, during school, she met the love of her life, David Petersen, also an Oregon Duck, at a campground in Lake Tahoe. David is the son of former Gilroy Mayor, Kenneth L. Petersen, who also was the owner of Petersen Tire Service on Monterey Street.

David was commissioned as an officer in the Army, having his officer's training cohort assist in wedding arrangements, and Linda flew out to him. They were married in 1970 at the Maryland Aberdeen Proving Ground. They lived in Huntsville, Alabama, for three months and then moved to Buren, Germany, to support Dave's Army career in Ordnance Command in a NATO unit. Living in Europe for two years, they enjoyed their time away, traveling and seeing the world with friends. Linda also kept busy as a substitute teacher while in Germany.

When returning to the states in 1972, they moved to Carmel, CA, where Linda began her 33-year teaching career with the Monterey Peninsula Unified School District, working at several schools, including Monte Vista Elementary and Foothill Elementary schools. She had a true passion for helping children and positively impacting the lives of families around her. For nearly the last two decades, Linda and David enjoyed traveling the world while setting down roots with second homes in Maui, HI, for 12 years and most recently in Palm Desert, CA. They consider themselves blessed by all the friends and extended family they made over their travels.

She is survived by her husband of 52 years, David Petersen; her sister JoAnn (Husband John) Stebbins; her daughter Page Gilmore, her son-in-law Billy Gilmore, her granddaughter Kylee Gilmore; her son Paul Petersen, and her grandsons Ian (Wife Marlana) and Kyle Petersen. A memorial service for Linda's life is planned to be held at a later date. The family asks, in place of flowers, memorial donations may be made in Linda's name to the SPCA of Monterey County (www.spcamc.org).

Published in Gilroy Dispatch · February 6, 2023