Obituary

Linda Marie Winningham

Linda Marie Winningham died of complications from cancer on August 3, 2022 at the age of 56. Throughout each of her final days and moments, she was surrounded and supported by loving friends and family all of whom will miss her dearly.

A proud, life-long native of Orange County, she was born Linda Marie Moran in Fullerton, California. Like the rest of her siblings, she attended grade school at St. Angela Merici Catholic School where life centered around church and community.  After eight years at St. Angela, Linda followed her sister to Rosary High School in Fullerton as a part of the class of 1984.  There she made life-long friends, continued to strengthen her Catholic faith, and further developed the spicy, spark plug of a personality that attracted people to her.  Keeping with the Orange County theme, Linda matriculated at California State University at Fullerton where she earned a BA in Business Administration and Marketing in 1989.

After college, Linda’s first “big girl job” was working for the quintessentially Orange County company Ocean Pacific, as a sales rep.  Her friends and siblings were always eager to see what free clothing samples she was able to pass out.  Her career path fortuitously led her to the trade show industry where she eventually met and married the love of her life – Tim Winningham (aka “Lover”) – who owned and operated a transportation company specializing in the trade show industry.  Linda spent the last 12 years of her career at Derse, helping companies build their brands through award-winning trade show exhibits.

Throughout her adult life, Linda never lived far from the beach, so it was not surprising that she and Tim settled in Dana Point in 2000.  There, after the tragic loss of their first son Nathan (who was delivered stillborn) they were overjoyed to conceive and welcome their only child – the much-loved and much anticipated Troy Winningham.  Linda loved baseball and was a fan of the California Angels and the CSUF Titans.  Tim Salmon and Mike Scioscia were some of her early crushes (pre-Tim W).  She, Tim and Troy attended many games together.  Troy inherited his mother’s love for baseball and played 4 years as a pitcher for baseball powerhouse JSerra Catholic High School in San Juan Capistrano. Linda would frequently, nervously, text live reports to family on Troy’s mound appearances.

Linda is survived by husband Tim and son Troy, mother Lucille Moran (Fullerton), brothers Con (San Clemente), Ralph (Peoria, AZ) and Sean Moran (Encinitas), sister Kathleen Walsh (Rockwood, TN) and many nieces and nephews.  She was preceded in death by her father, Cornelius P. Moran.

Linda will be joyfully remembered for how she lived – and we have only begun to recall, share and sometimes exaggerate all the stories that made her so lovable and remarkable. We love and miss you Linda!