Linda Bossio Funkhouser

The Road Goes Ever On and On – The Journey of Linda Bossio Funkhouser.

If this were a traditional obituary, you’d read that Linda Ann Bossio Funkhouser was daughter number four of the eight children (all daughters) that her parents Alexander and Katherine Bossio had. You’d read that she was a retired teacher and a beloved wife survived by her husband Bill and her two children, son-in-law, and pet Leia. There would probably be some flowery language about her being a beloved wife, mother, and a devout follower of the Way of Jesus. Much like the Hobbits in her favorite book, The Hobbit, one could learn all sorts of facts about her, but that wouldn’t tell you who Linda was.

You’d have to talk to her to learn that even though she often said she rejected Bill for almost two years because he was a long-haired hippy that still wore platform shoes and had bell-bottoms in the late 70’s. She was more concerned that he was immature in his faith and she wasn’t sure if he’d be a good father. However, she knew she would marry him when she saw the maturity of his faith on display serving alongside her family at the Rock church and how he cared for her dog Luciana when she went into labor while Linda was at work. When people loved those she loved, she felt as though they loved her. She would eventually marry Bill even though he didn’t cut his hair and she had to secretly throw out his bell-bottoms and platform shoes.

A traditional obituary may tell God answered her prayers and gave her Christiaan and Lauren but wouldn’t tell you that her greatest desire when she had children is that they would be friends. If you knew to look, you could see tears of happiness roll down her cheek as she heard and watched her children laugh at whatever ridiculous game they would play or story they would be telling as adults.

Her favorite verse was Psalm 37:4, “Delight thyself in the Lord: and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.” If you heard her quoting a verse it was likely in KJV even though she read other translations, but she’d tell you it’s because there’s a beauty in the olde English. She grew up Catholic, but as she experienced Holy Spirit and his transformative power, she forged a new pathway for herself balancing the freedom and personal relationship with God with the holiness and grandeur of her Catholic upbringing, a pathway that would inspire tor Eddie Bez speak into their life, reinforced her ability to rely on Christ in the midst of hardship, worship like King David did, and love others as Jesus loved her.

If you had the blessing to hear her sing you knew how beautiful her voice was. But if you had ever been around her in times of trial, you would know that she wielded worship as a weapon in her prayer arsenal as she fought for those she loved. To hear her pray in the midst of worship was to witness a master artisan participating in a sacred craft. She boldly approached the throne of grace in times of need and as cyclical suffering struck the Funkhouser household, she like Aaron supported her husband and children in whatever way we needed, through prayer, encouraging notes, hugs, telling us she loved us, or just listening as we complained.

Ultimately, Linda never got to visit the Shire or go on the African Safari and see elephants, but she did get to see her husband become Dr. William Funkhouser, something she was always so proud to share about, even if Bill didn’t broadcast it. Linda got to see her children grow up to love Jesus and serve him. She got to see her son embraced by a ministry that supports, celebrates, and allows Christiaan to use his gifts, passions, and God-given experiences to share the love of Jesus with others. She saw Lauren thrive as a teacher, carrying on the family tradition, living her dream of being married to her husband Justin. And while Linda never had the opportunity to become a grandmother, she prayed for her eventual grandchildren that they would be blessed, that they would love God, and that they would be friends.

Perhaps most importantly her surviving family gets to celebrate the impact she made on them, and that she is in Heaven—healed and restored in the loving arms of her savior, who will wipe every tear from her eye to welcome her into a place where there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain.

In lieu of flowers, donations, in her honor, can be made to support her children.

Support Christiaan in his mission work as he shares the love of Jesus through the servant’s heart, hospitality, and love of knowledge taught to him by Linda on the Emory University Campus through Bread Coffeehouse: https://www.breadcoffeehouse.org/christiaan

Support Lauren and Justin in their dream to become parents and fulfill Linda and Bill’s desire to become grandparents by donating at: https://hatchingamiracle.com/us/ others to follow her. Attending the Rock Church with her husband, family, and having Pas

A funeral for Linda will take place on Tuesday March 3, 2026 from at 11:00 AM, when her sisters will share their memories of Linda's life.  The family will receive friends for a visitation on Monday, March 2, 2026 from 6PM-8PM.