Linda Pooschke, 80, passed away peacefully at her home in Mustang, Oklahoma on September 18th, 2025, surrounded by her loving family.

Linda was born to Raymond Toby Johnston and Laura Belle (Craddock) Johnston in the Anadarko Hospital in 1944. She was the oldest of five brothers and sisters. Linda grew up in rural Oklahoma, moving from farm to farm in the Pocassett/Gracemont area. She attended and graduated from Gracemont High School and then attended business college in Oklahoma City before marrying Jackson Newell in 1963.

Linda then joined her husband in Weatherford, Oklahoma, where he was attending Southwestern University. While in Weatherford, Linda worked for Kelley Jewelers where she was introduced to a new world and also began developing skills as a merchant and a retailer.

Upon her husband's graduation, they ended up settling in Anadarko, OK in 1965, where they had two children, Michael Wade Newell and Lori Michelle Newell. The family moved to Lawton, Oklahoma in 1979.

Linda worked various jobs at the time, one of which was with Safeway. She would work on Saturdays closing the store's books for the week. Soon she was accepted into the company's management training program and became the first female Store Manager in the Oklahoma Division of Safeway. At the time, Safeway was the world's largest retailer. In total, she managed six different stores for Safeway, opening one of them and also participated in supervising their Store Manager Training Program and Manager Assessment Program for the division.

In 1988, Linda went on to marry the love of her life, James (Jim) Pooschke. After a year of marriage, they moved to the Houston area and Linda went to work for the HEB Grocery Company. She managed a total of four stores, opening two of them, for HEB. Linda became the first Store Director in the Houston Division of HEB. After four years with HEB Linda transitioned into backstage and then corporate rolls that included training, HR and special project work until she retired in 2009.

In 2012 Jim and Linda returned to their roots in Oklahoma and Sooner Magic Football. They retired in Tuttle and most recently, Mustang.

Linda is survived by her beloved husband of 37 years, Jim Pooschke, her two children Mike Newell (and his wife Traci) and Lori Newell, and Jim's son Michael Pooschke (and his wife Heather), three cherished grandchildren: Harmon Newell, Hallie Pooschke, and Maddie Pooschke. She will also be remembered fondly by her brothers, sisters, in-laws and their spouses, as well as many nieces, nephews, former co-workers and colleagues.

A funeral service to honor Linda's life and legacy will be held on Monday, September 29, 2025, at 11:00a.m. at the Becker-Rabon Funeral Home Chapel, 1502 Fort Sill Blvd., Lawton, Oklahoma. Graveside service will follow at Highland Cemetery in Lawton.

The service may be viewed by following the livestream link at www.beckerfuneral.com or by visiting the Becker-Rabon Funeral Home Facebook page.

An online guest book and sympathy cards are available at www.beckerfuneral.com

https://events.alz.org/fundraisers/jamespooschke/in-loving-memory-of-linda-pooschke---her-light-will-forever-shine