Linda Faye (Bowles) Hargenrader was born on July 1, 1947 in Independence, MO, and she died on Tuesday, March 2, 2021 at St. Luke's Hospice House in Kansas City, MO. She was the youngest child of E.P. "Bill" Bowles and Dale Caroline (Holman) Bowles.

The family moved to Grand Junction, CO in 1957, and she graduated from Grand Junction High School in 1965. Though she never obtained a college degree, she loved learning, so she was a college drop in and attended many classes in Colorado and Virginia.

In 1969, she entered on duty with the Central Intelligence Agency as a clerk/typist. Though she wasn't a particularly good typist (she could type 65 errors a minute), she had a strong administrative skills and developed a reputation for being able to handle complex jobs. She was assigned to the Agency's Office of Training and Education where she became an instructor; when she retired in 1997, she was a senior course designer, evaluator, and facilitator. After retiring, she continued to work for the Agency as a contractor, and even after moving to Missouri she flew to Virginia to teach instructor training courses for them.

During her career, Linda got to travel to various sites in the U.S. and around the world. She particularly enjoyed her time in Spain, Turkey, Kyrgyzstan, Egypt, Denmark, and other spots around the world. For 25 years, she was a member of the Arlington Metropolitan Chorus, a semi-professional group that performed major choral works. She was a Sunday School teacher for the youth and single adults and sang in the choir at First Baptist Church of Clarendon in Arlington, VA.

In 1995, she married Gary Hargenrader, and in 2007 they moved to Warrensburg, MO, so Linda could take care of her invalid brother. In Warrensburg, Linda volunteered at her church and other charitable organizations. Linda was a member of Grover Park Baptist Church where she was on several committees, taught an adult Bible study class, and was on the Women's Ministry Council.

Linda said that her heritage was knowledge that God is our Father, assurance that Jesus is her Savior, love of family and friends, a ready smile, music, and unfettered laughter. Her faith was the foundation for how she lived her life and how she related to others. She thought that loving was easier than hating.

Linda was preceded in death by her parents and her siblings, William D. Bowles, Richard W. Bowles, John P. Bowles, and Carolyn S. Mathews.

She is survived by her husband, Gary Hargenrader; his two daughters, April O'Neal and Crystal Leon-Guererro; her sister-in-law, Carolyn J. Bowles; her brother-in-law, Robert C. Mathews; her nieces, Suzette C. Groebner, Cynthia S. Schmidt, and Sarah L. Florence; her nephew, William W. Bowles; and eight awesome great nieces and nephews.

Memorial services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, March 5, 2021 at Grover Park Baptist Church with the Rev. Dr. Randall Neal officiating. The family will receive friends from 10:00 a.m. until service time at the church.

Memorial contributions are suggested to Grover Park Baptist Church and can be left in care of Sweeney-Phillips & Holdren Funeral Home.