Linda Wagner

Linda was born November 21, 1933 in Chicago, Illinois to Stanley and Pauline Wessel. At the age of two, the family moved to the Northshore where she graduated from New Trier High School in Winnetka, Illinois. She then attended Colby-Sawyer College, transferring to the University of Wisconsin in the fall of 1953 to study physical therapy. She graduated in 1956 with her B.S. degree and following an internship, primarily in children's orthopedics and neurology, received her physical therapy certificate from the University of Wisconsin Medical School in October of 1956. She then worked at the Illinois Children's’ Hospital School where she became the Director of Physical Therapy and was also a clinical instructor at Northwestern Medical School in physical Therapy. She moved to Corvallis in 1963 and was employed by the Corvallis School District as one of the first physical therapists from 1972-1990. She was instrumental in starting the Adaptive Physical Education Swim program for disabled mainstreamed middle school students, to assist them in finding a sport they could participate in, meet others with similar disabilities, and make new friends. Several of her students lettered at Corvallis and Crescent Valley High Schools. She and Sheldon “Shag” Wagner were married May 28, 1960 in Evanston, Illinois. They met while at the University of Wisconsin.. They lived in Chicago, Illinois while Shag completed his residency and moved to Corvallis, Oregon in 1963 for Shag to start his medical practice. After her parents divorced when she was a child, she became especially close to her step-mother, Elizabeth, known to family and friends as “Lisl” Wessel. Linda was active as a volunteer in the community. She had been a member of Delta Gamma Fraternity while in college and remained active as an alumnae. She was a charter member of Corvallis Assistance League, past board member of the OSU- Corvallis Symphony Society, Pastoral Counseling Board, and Access Benton County. She was also a Camp Fire leader, a member of the Benton County Medical Alliance and Good Samaritan Hospital Auxiliary to name a few. She was also the chair of the Benton County March of Dimes and along with Dr. Eldon Younger, started the Well Child Clinics which are now run by the Benton County Health Department. She served nine years on the Benton County Special Transportation Committee, six of which she was chair, In 2001 she was awarded the Volunteer of the Year by the Oregon Transportation Conference. Stating in 2004 she became a member of the first class of Project HER to assist and encourage breast cancer patients and help them through the medical maze. She was also a member of the First Presbyterian Church where she served on various committees. Linda is survived by two daughters, Diane LaFollette of Windsor, CA and Deborah Alba and son-in law Dave , of Philomath, Oregon plus five grandchildren, Caelin, Meaghan and Ian Alba and Noah and Joshua LaFollette. She is also survived by her sister, Barbara Barrett of Pacific Palisades, CA and her husband William and her nephews, Chris, Bill and Scott Barrett, in addition to three nieces of Dallas, Texas, Carrie, Aimee and Lauren. She was preceded in death by her husband of nearly 50 years, Sheldon, known as Shag, in July 2009. Services will be held at the First Presbyterian Church on Sunday, April 3 at 1:00. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to the Good Samaritan Hospital Foundation for the Mario Pastega House or the First Presbyterian Church.

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Linda Wagner

November 21, 1933 - March 27, 2011