Linda Lou Vazquez

Linda L. Vazquez entered into eternal rest with her Lord and Savior on January 29, 2026.
She was born on July 31, 1949, in Quincy, California, to Virgil and Charlotte (Plaster)
Emerald. Linda is survived by her loving husband, Edward "Ed" Vazquez of Oroville,
California; her children, Sandie Hubbard (Tod) of Susanville, California, Clint Rippetoe
(Kristi) of Crescent City, California, Jon Giancola (Gregory) of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, her
step-children Nicholas and Bronson Vazquez of Albany, Oregon, and Sean Vazquez of
Doyle, California; seven grandchildren, Chelsea (Aaron), Cady, Kendall (Grant), Dustin
(Erica), Brooke, Brandon (Miguel), and Bailee; seven great-grandchildren, Remington,
Kimber, Colt, Amara, Roland, Theodore, and Hazel; as well as numerous cousins,
nephews, and nieces.
Linda was the second of four siblings: Thomas "Tommy" Emerald (Rose), Mary Rower
(Gerald), and James Emerald. She was predeceased by her parents, Virgil and Charlotte
Emerald; her younger brother, James; her granddaughter, Brooke; and her brother-in-law,
Gerald.
Linda and Ed married in 2004. The two were friends during high school and later
reconnected. Ed relocated to Oroville following the closure of the Sierra Pacific Sawmill in
Susanville. Together, Ed introduced Linda to the world of motorcycles, and they spent many
weekends exploring Northern California on the road. Linda affectionately called Ed her
"Teddy Bear Angel" and commemorated their bond with a tattoo of a teddy bear wearing
riding leathers, angel wings, and a halo.
Linda cherished her childhood memories of time spent with her grandmother, Clara Honor
Plaster, who owned a ranch in Oroville. After raising her children in the Auburn area, Linda
returned to Oroville, where she made a lasting impact on the community.
In 1996, Linda experienced a life-altering medical event that resulted in the loss of her
eyesight. Despite this challenge, she recognized a need within the Oroville community and
took action. As a Salvation Army volunteer, Linda developed a jail ministry program that
became an invaluable resource to the community. Through her work, she built strong
professional relationships with local judges, court personnel, the Butte County District
Attorney’s office, defense attorneys, drug and alcohol counselors, and various
rehabilitation facilities and programs. Linda assisted countless families in navigating the
often-difficult process of securing drug and alcohol treatment placements. She treated
everyone she served with dignity and respect, always willing to help those who were ready
to meet her halfway. Throughout her time with the Salvation Army, Linda was presented
with the William Booth award in September 2007 and the Partner of the Year award from
The Salvation Army ARC Oakland division in 2012 for her Jail Ministry work. After many
years of dedicated service, Linda retired in 2017, and her contributions were recognized in

a published article that highlighted her accomplishments and the loss her retirement
represented to the community.
Linda had a deep love for traveling and exploring new places, especially the ocean, which
brought her peace and joy. She had a fondness for horses and adored her critters, including
her most recent companion, Fur Ball, who brought her comfort and companionship in her
later years.
We invite you to join us in celebrating Linda’s life and legacy. Memorial services will be held
on Friday, June 5, 2026, at 12:00 PM at Sheer Memorial Chapel, located at 2410 Foothill
Boulevard, Oroville, CA 95966. A Celebration of Life will follow immediately at the Salvation
Army Church, 1640 Washington Avenue, Oroville, CA 95966. In lieu of flowers, donations
may be made to the Oroville Salvation Army in Linda’s honor.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Linda Lou Vazquez, please visit our floral store.