Linda Jo (Nighswonger) Mellinger

Linda Jo Mellinger, 72 of Bristol, IN passed away on Friday, August 25, 2023 at Goshen Hospital. She was born on April 3, 1951 in Alva, OK to Fred H. and Carol M. Nighswonger. She married Thomas Mellinger on February 28, 1976 at the Baptist Church in Alva, OK.

Linda graduated from Northwestern Oklahoma State University where she earned a BS in Home Economics and Sociology. She dedicated 45 years to her home daycare, which she loved. In her youth she worked at ADEC. She and her husband are members of Bristol Community Church. She enjoyed cooking and baking special treats for her family and her church family. She also enjoyed working in her yard. Her favorite time was the time she spent with her family and friends and watching Purdue and Oklahoma play football.

She is survived by her husband of 47 years, Tom; their children Levi Mellinger of Columbus, OH., and Lesli Mellinger of Bristol, IN; her brother Don (Reva) Nighswonger of Coldwater, KS. and her sister Mary (Drew) Podlesny of Owasso, OK and her nieces and nephews, Jason, Jessica, Kelsey and Emily. She was preceded in death by her parents Fred and Carol Nighswonger.

Visitation will be 4-8 pm on Friday, September 1, 2023 at Bristol Community Church, 201 South Division Street, Bristol, IN 46507 where funeral services will be at 10am on Saturday, September 2, 2023 at the church. Memorial donations in memory of Linda may be made to the church www.bristolumc.org Stemm-Lawson-Peterson Funeral Home, 1531 Cobblestone Blvd., Elkhart, IN 46514 is assisting the Mellinger family. Online condolences may be made to the family at www.stemmlawsonpeterson.com