Linda Cornford

Linda Hitchcock Cornford, 76, of St. Charles, Missouri, passed away peacefully on Friday, July 10, 2026, in the skilled nursing facility at EverTrue Breeze Park.

Linda was born October 14, 1949, in St. Louis, Missouri, to George and Grace Hitchcock. She grew up in St. Louis and attended school in the Riverview Gardens School District. It was at Graceland University in Lamoni, lowa, that she met Ernie Cornford, and the two were married on August 1, 1970, beginning 56 wonderful years together.

The newly married couple started their life together in Florida, where Ernie grew up — but it didn't take long for Linda to decide that a state where the cockroaches could fly was not the state for her. She set her sights on returning to St. Louis, and lucky for the Cardinals fan she'd married, he came along willingly.

Linda returned to Riverview Gardens, this time as a teacher, and spent most of her career teaching kindergarten. When she began her teaching career, her colleagues welcomed her with tips, guidance, and patience the kind of support every new teacher hopes for. But over time, that professional relationship grew into something deeper. What started as coworkers became something more like a sisterhood: a circle of women who celebrated each other's births, marriages, and milestones, and who showed up for one another through loss and heartbreak just the same. As the years passed, Linda became the veteran teacher offering that same welcome to the next generation coming up behind her, continuing a circle of support she had once been given herself.

In the late 1980s, Linda discovered a new education program being developed by Mildred Winter called Parents as Teachers, and was proud to be part of it from the very beginning - helping prepare children for school and encouraging parents to be active partners in their child's education.

Linda was preceded in death by her parents, George and Grace Hitchcock, and her brother, Bob Hitchcock. She is survived by her husband, Ernie Cornford; her niece, Mary Mallien (husband Steve); and their children, James and Genevieve.

Linda loved each of the women in her teaching sisterhood equally, and in her memory, her wish is simple: that this sisterhood continue. Rather than a formal service, Linda asked that her friends gather as they always have for each other, in celebration and in support - and carry that spirit forward.