Linda Gil was a truly bright light in the world. She was a friend to many and a fierce champion for social justice. She served on the Travis Park Church Welcome Team and was a constant fixture in the kitchen, cooking meals for the Corazon ministry and often leading the deep cleanings several times a year. Linda was a valued member of the community and a passionate advocate for recycling and care for the environment. Her efforts helped shape the church’s approach to recycling, especially in the kitchen. Her dedication and spirit made a lasting difference, and she will be deeply missed. She was a member of Rightly Made Home Group (parents and allies of LGBTQIA), the Prayer Chain, Pride Planning Committee, Social Justice (including Reconciling Ministries Network, Methodists for Social Action, and Texas Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty), and the Green Team. She wasn’t afraid to get her hands dirty or show up where she was needed, whether it was a landscaping work day or registering people to vote.
Linda was the beloved matriarch of her family, with three daughters, a son, and an extended family who gathered together this last Thanksgiving. In late September, she was diagnosed with lung cancer. True to who she was, Linda remained a deeply private person. She was surrounded by her family when she passed away on Thursday, January 22, from complications surrounding her illness.
Her family has a message for us…
She loved her church family, and it brought her so much joy. There will not be a service, but please continue to love each other and spread her joy to all you meet.
If you have stories, memories, or photos of Linda that you would like to share, we invite you to submit them below so we can celebrate her life together.
From Darrel Bell-Tenorio: Linda was an amazing and beloved friend. It is hard for me to believe she has left so quickly. I first met her at social justice meetings (RMN-Travis Park) almost 4 years . I told her about my mom being my strongest ally through life and she shared all the many things she had been part of during the 80’s and 90’s when so many died of AIDS. She had recently moved from Washington State. It was there that she cared for those dying of AIDS at their homes. Volunteering by taking meals to their homes and having a warm conversation. She was a social worker. She was an activist and spoke up on behalf of women and LGBTQIA during volatile times. Since knowing her the last 4 years, she was always present at Gay Pride events. You would find her planning and serving at the booth. Alex and I remember her being such a strong supporter of our wedding and dancing at our reception 2 years ago.
She was such a vital part of our Rightly Made Home Group. She loved hosting at her home and making everyone feel welcomed. She was feisty in a positive sense. Always speaking up for the oppressed and spurring a profound and meaningful conversation. She was very involved with Corazon. I know she served on the board for the San Antonio Immigration Coalition and volunteered at the San Antonio SPCA.
She loved animals and adopted and cared for many cats. I remember her speaking of her daughters and family with a gleam in her eye and enjoying her many trips to Washington State for visits. Most of all, I will miss our long conversations, serving together at voting events, attending plays at San Pedro play house, carpooling to our Rightly Made Home Group, and seeing her smiling face at the welcome desk at our Church. She was always my voice of reason and reflection. She was a beautiful and amazing woman who Alex and I loved dearly and were privileged to have as a dear friend. She will be greatly missed. By now, I know she has met my mom and all her loved ones that went before her. This brings me joy.
From Linda Grace Solis: Linda was a founding member of the social justice Sunday school class I hosted back in 2020-2021. She was a staunch advocate for social justice, inclusion, and equity. She was open-minded and loving, willing to befriend anyone and everyone. She was also the one who asked the toughest questions in our class! I loved that she challenged us to consider issues and circumstances that we may not have thought of otherwise. She was just a joy and a wonderful human. I was shocked when I saw that she had passed away. She carried the light of Christ within her and she let it shine on everyone around her!
From Sonia Cruz: Linda was very curious about our migrant siblings at the border and wanted to learn more about it. So we did mission trip to Brownsville, TX last June 2025. Where Deaconess Cindy Andrade Johnson gave us a tour of La Posada Providencia where our migrant siblings live. Linda, was an amazing person, we will deeply miss her.
From Bobbi Kroll: I loved Linda. We recognized each other immediately as fellow transplants to Texas who had deep roots in Seattle. We both moved here to be close to adult children and sought the same characteristics in a church. We became official members of Travis Park on the same Sunday: October 30, 2022. There was never enough time to talk to Linda. She was passionate about a wide variety of topics and cared for so many people so lovingly. We often got lost in conversation because of our overlapping interests in history/politics, Deborah’s House mentoring, travel, TPUMC kitchen, and environmental issues. She greeted everyone lovingly with a wide smile. She knew the church leaders as well as those who sat infrequently in the back of the church at Sunday morning worship. Her energy exceeded that of most folks as she appeared to be superhumanly ageless. Sadly, she was not. I grieve her loss. I would love to have one more conversation. One more hug.
From Donna Clark: Ever since Bob and I came to Travis Park, I kept hearing the name Linda Gil — and how she was the person to talk to about recycling. It didn’t take long to understand why. Linda was such a vital part of creating our recycling program at Travis Park, and her passion for caring for the earth and our community could be felt throughout the church she loved so deeply.
I will miss her bright smile and the way she inspired and led so many of us to do good. She gave so much of herself for others, always with grace and kindness.
Farewell, our good and faithful friend. You made a lasting difference, and your spirit will continue to guide us.
James “Jem” Zitelman: Linda and I served on the Welcome Desk together as well as many other groups. Linda was my greatest blessing ever. She PERSONIFIED Jesus Christ in everything she did. She is responsible for getting me back into my collar and out in the field and serving the homeless and the lost. I’ll carry her with me as well as Christ henceforth until my earth days are at an end.