College director of military programs dies
Tuesday, April 17, 2001
Lacey, Wash. - The Saint Martin's College
community mourns in the loss of a woman who played a vital role in the
lives of military students at the college's extension campuses.
Linda Fletcher, director of military
programs, died April 11 at her Federal Way home after a two-year battle
with cancer.
Fletcher was born April 4, 1946, to
Glendon and Helen (Henderson) Patterson in Memphis, Tenn. She enjoyed
spending time with family and friends and was known for her devotion to
the field of education and her faith.
A funeral mass will be held Wednesday at
7 p.m. at St. Vincent De Paul Catholic Church in Federal Way, at 30525
8th Ave. S.
The college will hold a separate memorial
service on April 25 at 3 p.m. at the Saint Martin's Abbey Church in
Lacey, 5300 Pacific Ave. SE.
Fletcher, 55, had been with the college
for seven years. Initially, she was the director of the Fort Lewis
extension campus. Three years ago, she became director of military
programs for both McChord and Fort Lewis.
"Linda Fletcher was a powerful
presence within the college community, and was an especially
compassionate leader at our military base programs," said
Jacqueline Johnson, vice president for academic affairs. "Linda was
a respected colleague and a beloved friend who will be sorrowfully
missed by us all."
She is credited with structuring the
extension campus programs and setting up a system that functioned to
meet the needs of the college and military, while keeping the best
interests of the students at the forefront. During two years of
chemotherapy, she never missed a day of work.
The Fort Lewis and McChord extensions
primarily serve military personnel and their dependents, offering eight
bachelor degree programs and one master's program to choose from. Under
Fletcher's direction the teacher certification program was recently made
available.
"Linda was welcoming, hospitable,
capable and a joy to be around," said David Spangler, the college's
president. "Her service and unselfish commitment to the college was
an inspiration for all of us. She kept a schedule that would challenge
the most ambitious among us."
Based on her wishes, the family is asking
that in lieu of flowers, condolences be instead sent to the Saint
Martin's Office of Development for the Linda Fletcher Memorial
Scholarship for Extension Students. Checks should be made payable to
Saint Martin's College and note the Linda Fletcher Memorial Scholarship.
She is survived by her husband, John
Fletcher of Federal Way; a son, Michael Fletcher of Federal Way; a
daughter, Kristin Conklin of Maple Valley; and her mother, Helen
Patterson of Federal Way.
For more information:
Christina Ramírez-Milhoan, communications specialist
Office of Communication
(360) 438-4541 or cramirez@stmartin.edu