LANCASTER—Linda Marie Benson, 62, died suddenly of a brain aneurysm on March 7.
Linda was vibrant and effervescent, welcoming, often irreverent and always ready with a witty, slightly outrageous, imaginative comment. She had dozens of chosen and cherished friends who were her family. She brightened the lives of her honorary parents, sisters, brothers, children and godchildren.
Linda is survived by her husband of 32 years, Robert Kreit.
She was born in Salisbury, Md., graduated from Washington College in Chestertown, Md., and got her MBA at Salisbury State University.
Linda was a consummate caretaker and caregiver. As caretaker, she actively supported environmental causes and made decisions rooted in a desire to honor and preserve the natural world. As caregiver, she looked after friends and family with intense focus and compassion.
She was a skilled and diplomatic problem-solver, offering well-considered suggestions and ideas. Helping to build and sustain a supportive community was especially important to Linda. She joyfully welcomed newcomers to gatherings—whether at line dance, food pantry or at their home. She had a powerful sense of social conscience. She was an active volunteer at the Upper Lancaster Community Food Pantry and worked tirelessly at the monthly food pantries. She helped organize lunch for volunteers and suggested potential process improvements to serve more clients efficiently.
Her energy was boundless. She danced with joy and abandon and walked 16 miles from Millenbeck to Kilmarnock on her birthday, “just because.”
She was an adventurous soul who enjoyed hiking, bird watching, sailing and travel. She trained for and completed both a half and full marathon just for the challenge. Linda loved music, and although she never had any formal training, she was accomplished at playing the oven mitts. She claimed to have a pair tuned for each octave.
A celebration of life will be held at a future date. Donations in Linda’s memory can be made to the Upper Lancaster Community Food Pantry, 5940 White Chapel Road, Lancaster, VA 22503; or Garfield’s Rescue, P.O. Box 257, Kilmarnock, VA 22482.
