Linda W. Gillam

Linda W (Dillard) Gillam, age 79, passed away Wednesday night, Mar 1, 2023, at Hines Hospice in Fresno, CA. On Jan 25, 1944, Linda was born at home in Laton, CA. She spent her childhood in Hanford and lived most of her adult life in Lemoore. In her final years, she moved back to Hanford to enjoy being near family, living fully until the end. Always strong, capable and talented, her school years showed her emerging abilities. In Elementary School, she was awarded a ribbon for Baseball Throw for Distance, throwing a baseball farther than anybody, both boys and girls. In 4H, she won the blue ribbon for baking in the Biscuits category, and a 3rd place in Sewing, for a Blouse. In High School, her singing in Choir earned her a letter in Music and her artistic skills emerged while doodling during class. Of the different paths in front of her, Linda chose to be a homemaker early on. While still at Hanford Union High School, she made a joint announcement in the newspaper that she was getting engaged along with her older brother, whose fiance was also still at HUHS. Linda married twice, ending up with a son, a daughter and stepdaughters she considered her own. She surrounded herself w a loving family of step, half and whole siblings. As a young mother, she felt the awe of having her 12 yr old son get in trouble for crafting a rocket that went up more than 1000 ft, enough to show up on radar at Lemoore Naval Air Station. She showed strength being able to continue driving, albeit changing course for the hospital, after seeing a flatbed truck with her 17 yr old son's car crunched into a ball on the back. A year later, after her son left for boot camp, she showed resolve when her 13 yr old daughter didn't feel like walking to school, taking her brother's car instead. Getting scared, her daughter drove it back immediately and ended up walking to school anyway, but not before Linda arranged for her to find a police officer in the principal's office when she got called in. Between Linda's dad and 2nd husband, both kids learned to drive at 12 yrs old. When Linda was in her late 30s, her 2nd husband Paul retired from the military. This enabled him to stay home and take care of the house and cooking while she went to college and got her nursing degree. Most of Linda's nursing career was at Sacred Heart Hospital in Hanford, but she retired from Corcoran State Prison. Post retirement, she had more time for her fanciful garden, known for its many cement animals and adornments. She is welcomed home by both husbands, her parents William Paul (1916-1995) and Jewell (Stockton) Dillard (1926-2001), and siblings Jerry Bruce (1948-1949) and Phillip Dwayne (1950-2020). She leaves behind siblings, children, grandchildren, one great grandchild, and her beloved dog Nikki. Graveside services will be held 10:00 AM Monday, March 13th, 2023 at Grangeville Cemetery, 10428 14th Ave, Armona. Services have been entrusted to Salser & Dillard Funeral Chapel. Memorial Tributes and condolences may be offered by logging onto www.salseranddillard.com.

Linda W. Gillam

January 25, 1944 - March 1, 2023