The Life of LINDA A. HILL
Age 74, of Scott Twp, on Sunday, June 21, 2020. Beloved soulmate of the late William Hill; daughter of the late Harold and Eleanor (Bettinger) Ayer; loving mother of Traci Hill and John (Jennifer) Hill; dear grandmother of Michael and Nora. Linda was a devoted wife and mother who had a lot of love to give to her family and friends. She was an animal lover and enjoyed traveling and gardening. Friends welcome THURSDAY 1-4 and FRIDAY 4-8pm, William Slater II Funeral Service (412-563-2800) 1650 Greentree Rd, Scott Twp 15220. Funeral Service 10:00a.m. SATURDAY in the funeral home. In lieu of flowers donations suggested to Animal Friends, 562 Camp Horne Rd, Pgh, PA, 15237. www.slaterfuneral.com
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1974.05.26
Linda with her Parents
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Both of Mom's parents were buried back in Syracuse N.Y.
Her father, Harold Ayer, is on the far left, and her Mother, Ellie May, is pictured on the right.
Harold passed in 1982, and his wife moved down to Pittsburgh her last couple of years.
Ellie May went into the hospital of April 1986, and passed soon after.
I don't remember much of my Grandpa, because I was too young when he passed. I know he was a little gruffer than Grandma, and was a hard working Man. He would tell Mom to shake things off. Mom used to say she got her strength from him.
I remember my Grandma Ayer.
She was one of the kindest and most sweet people you ever met. Mom said she had been that way all of her life.
Ellie had a type of aura about her that put people at ease, and was always so very comforting.
Their passing affected Mom deeply. Mom used to call herself an orphan after they were gone.
She would want their memory to be kept alive somewhere.
1976.03.23
When Linda Met Bill
During the 1970s, Linda Jean Ayer was working for Mohawk airlines, based in Syracuse N.Y.
It was a nice gig, working in reservations. She was able to fly anywhere for free and bring family.
The airlines are vastly different now.
In 1972, Mohawk was bought out by Allegheny Airways, based in Pittsburgh. To get the two companies to get along, they would have familarization trips. This one was to the newly opened Disney World, in Florida.My Mom, Linda, almost didn't go.
Her father, Harold Ayer, was feeling sick. But, both her Father, and her Mother, Ellie (Elenor) Mae (Bettinger) Ayer, encouraged her to go. So, off she went.
Linda see's this handsome man on the plane, and thinks to herself, "He's got to be taken".
Turns out he was single, and interested in her too.
They really hit it off. Mom wasn't the type to just hook up with folks. She had two previous SERIOUS engagements, that were broken off because she realized the relationships were unhealthy. So, this meeting someone on one of these trips and really hitting it off was unusual for her.
They spent the enitre trip together. When Mom got home, Ellie Mae knew Linda had met someone.
Usually Grandma's intuiation was about bad stuff. This is one of the rare times it was about something good, and not about someone passing or an accident.
Mom didn't hear from Dad for weeks, so she brushed off what Grandma said and continued with her life.
Finally, Dad reached her, but it was through work. Turns out Dad had lost her number, and was relying on the chance to talk to her on the phones at work.
This was the start of their long distance relationship, from 1976 to 1978, when they finally married and she moved down to Pittsburgh. Maybe it was because of all the hard work it took to have a long distance relationship in the 70's, but they stayed a team all their lives.
Dad had a bout of cancer in 1994 to 1998, and had 20% survival rate. My Mom was devoteed to him through all of it, and he credited her for a huge part of him beating the cancer. They had another 20 years together after that. They loved each other, and Mom was devestated in 2019, when we lost Dad. She passed a year later because of complications of her COPD (and NOT covid) and joined Dad.
It's rare to see REAL genuine love like this, but I grew up seeing it between them all my life.
Their story is a real story of love at first sight that lasted with a lot of work and faith.
1977.07.26
Bill is a Teddy Bear
Mom's friends had heard she about this guy she met on a trip, and had decided to date long distance.
It was a little easier for Linda and Bill to date in the 1970s because they both worked for the airlines, and back then, employees flew for free. They had also heard it had taken a while for him to contact her after the trip.
So, it was time to test Mr. William Hill.
They were all hanging around the pool and Bill was offered some orange juice. And then offered another.
So enough, Dad was a little tipsy. Turns out the orange juice had some alcohol mixed in.
They discovered that Billy was a sweet, kind, teddy bear while drunk.
And they decided he was ok for their Linny, and were there when Linda Married Bill in 1978