Lynda Kaye Gladhill

Lynda Kaye Gladhill, of Frederick, Maryland, died suddenly on Thursday, September 5, 2024. She was the beloved wife of Larry C. Gladhill, also from Frederick, for 52 years. 

She was born at Frederick Memorial Hospital, in Frederick, Maryland, to the late Claude Lee Michael and Mary Ellen (Beard) Knill on May 20, 1947.

Although one might call Mom a homemaker, she was busy caring for others and trying to better herself. In her younger years, she was a nursing assistant, a medical assistant, ran a boarding house, worked as a monitor technician, and was a college student all while being a mother of two children. 

She was determined to make a better life for herself and us. For her, the answer to a better life was through education and job training. Therefore, throughout the 1970s and into the early 1980s, she was a licensed practical nurse student and a registered nurse student. After many years of college, at the age of 44, Mom got her bachelor's degree in psychology and social gerontology from Hood College After graduation, she was extremely proud of being one of five people selected to go to Johns Hopkins School of Nursing on a full scholarship with paid living and educational supply costs included. She attended classes for a few months but fatigue, health problems, her daughter having problems in middle school, and the future arrival of a grandchild soon took precedence over her studies.

Her greatest achievements can be seen in the love and support she gave to her family. She helped her husband obtain an associate degree in accounting and another degree in computer programming. She also got him out of unstable construction jobs and got him into his final job as a master craftsman at a nursing home in Montgomery County. When it comes to her son, she encouraged his talent in working on cars from the time he was little and all throughout high school. Today, at age 55, he is still working as mechanic. As for her daughter, she spent what seems like a million years advising, helping, and encouraging her to thrive. After many years and four college degrees, her daughter became a registered nurse in 2020. 

Outside of her immediate family, she is remembered for her kind, caring, supportive and giving nature towards others. The fact that two daughter-in-laws adored her and still call her Mom speaks volumes on how respected she was by them both. In 1991, when presented with a granddaughter, she made sure her granddaughter was loved, cared for, and had the same opportunities as her little brother. When her grandson arrived in 1993, she took great pains and much love in raising him to an adult. Lastly, within the past two years, she became a great-grandmother to two teenaged granddaughters through her son’s second marriage. She enjoyed listening to the girls’ stories, giving advice, and furnishing them with gifts. 

Her hobbies included cooking, gardening, keeping everyone up to date current events, education others on various eras of history, reading, watching YouTube, watching Anderson Cooper on CNN, listening to the oldies on Pandora, caring for her family, and shopping on QVC for the past 32 years.

In addition to her husband, she is survived by her only living sibling Wayne C. Knill and wife Hannah of Mount Airy, MD, her son Troy C. Williams and wife Annette R. (Lescalleet) Williams of Frederick, MD, and her daughter Brooke C. 

Gladhill of Frederick, MD. She is also survived by former daughter-in-law Marla J. (Holly) Williams of New Market, MD. Her surviving grandchildren are granddaughter Tabitha L. Holly of Frederick, MD, grandson Chad R. Holly of Germantown, MD. Her surviving great-grandchildren are great-granddaughter Diana Hopkins of Frederick, MD, and great-granddaughter Brookelynn Lescalleet of Frederick, MD.

Lynda did not want a viewing or a funeral. She wanted everything to be private.