Linda K Topper-Anderson Linda died on April 26, the result of complications of the Glioblastoma Multiforme brain tumor she’d been battling for several months. She was 65. A computer science and mathematics major at the University of Illinois, Linda recently retired as a vice president in the services sector of IBM after a 34 year career. Being an IBMer in the old sense when people, client and company shared equal loyalties brought her pride and satisfaction. She served that base in several capacities and for 7 years in the Nordics and Europe. It was a career during which she attracted and maintained close friendships and garnered deep respect from colleagues at all levels of the company and the clients with which she worked. After retirement, she was becoming increasingly active in SCORE where she was eager to assist others who could benefit from her business experience. Linda was also committed to the national women’s organization, PEO, which is dedicated to funding educational opportunities for young women. She turned to woodturning to express her wonderful creative side and was beginning to be recognized for her designs and quality of execution. A patient and open instructor, she gave many a successful first exposure to woodturning who would never have tried if not for her encouragement. From earliest childhood, Linda loved horses, several of which she owned and jumped until she moved to Europe. Her dogs and cats were always among the luckiest and her last, Skinny Pete and Maya noticeably miss her. Linda brought all her qualities to the forefront as wife and bonus mother when she married Gary Anderson 21 years ago. In the process, she picked up three children and an extended family that she embraced, loved and supported with all her heart. Grandchildren were something that she’d rather given up on experiencing until she married but quickly gained their love and loyalty through her encouragement and unbridled enthusiasm for their individuality. A recent addition to the grandchildren, Oliver, was the first baby she had encountered as a family member and she fell hopelessly in love with the little fellow. Linda leaves her husband, Gary Anderson of Asheville; mother Jane Topper of Tulsa Oklahoma; sister Barbara Cohen, also of Tulsa; Joseph Topper of Pasadena, California; bonus-son, Scott Anderson of Simpsonville South Carolina; bonus daughters Nadean Manley of Sacramento California and Courtney Anderson of Dublin California; seven grandchildren—Jennifer, Nicholas, Jason, Craig, Grant, Natalie and Oliver; nephew Jacob Topper and niece Haley Topper. She is also survived by two exceptionally close friends—Phyllis Thomas of Encino California and Eva Nathanson of Stockholm Sweden. We will deeply miss her grand smile, even temperament, sharp mind and warm hugs. Closed celebrations of life will be held soon for friends and family in Asheville, Northern and Southern California and the Chicago area. Remembrances of Linda can be given to Brother Wolf or the Asheville Art Museum’s endowment fund.

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