Emily Beth Linhart

Emily Beth Linhart went to heaven on Thursday, September 2, 2010, at the very young age of 20, five days before her 21st birthday. She was a resident of Walnut Creek, and former resident of El Sobrante and Rodeo, CA. She was born in Oakland, CA on September 7, 1989. She graduated from Berean Christian High School in Walnut Creek in 2007. This year she was completing her senior year at Humboldt State University, with a Bachelor of Arts degree in French and Francophone Studies. Emily was a great believer in our Lord and had a passion for anything French. During her senior year of High School, she spent a semester in Saumur, France, living her dream as an exchange student with a local Christian family. She was scheduled to return to France this year for 9 months to complete her senior year at college. She was very artistic. She sang in the Berean School Choir, loved to draw, as well as dabble in pottery, surprising people with gifts of her works of art. She loved nature and her cats, Buttons and Mittens. Emily grew up in El Sobrante and Rodeo, attending Marie Murphy and Hillcrest Elementary schools, Carquinez Middle School, and Berean Christian High School, DVC, and Humboldt State University. Emily had a love of the French language since she was a girl and fulfilled her dream of visiting France as an exchange student with AFS in 2006-2007. She was to have returned to France in her senior year of college. Emily loved speaking French, hiking in the Port Costa hills, our cats, studying the World Atlas, and playing video games with her brothers. Emily lived out her Christian faith each day. She cared deeply for others and had supported for several years a girl from Uganda. We know that Emily is with our Lord Jesus Christ in Heaven, and that her suffering has turned to joy. We were blessed beyond measure to have had Emily in our lives, and we will never forget her. Emily was preceded in death by her grandparents Effie and George Schandelmier, and Russell Linhart. She is survived by her mother Suzanne Schandelmier of Walnut Creek; father Robert Linhart of San Francisco; brothers Austin and Scott Linhart of Walnut Creek; grandmother Irene Linhart of El Sobrante; and by many aunts, uncles, and cousins. Emily was also very giving, living her Christian faith. For the past three years she has been sponsoring a young girl from Uganda named Agnes. One Christmas, she asked that instead of presents, we buy a goat for a family in Africa. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that any donations be sent to either www.worldvision.net or www.gospelmessengers.org in her name. If you wish to make a donation in memory of Emily, the following organizations were dear to her heart: Gospel Messengers, c/o Bonnie Bartholomew, P.O. Box 837, Crandall, Texas, and AFS intercultural programs - AFSUSA.org. Family and friends are invited to a Visitation on Friday, September 10, between 4 and 8 pm at the OAK PARK HILLS CHAPEL, 3111 N. Main St., Walnut Creek. A prayer service will be held at 11 am, Saturday, September 11 at the Ygnacio Valley Community Baptist Church, 535 Walnut Ave, Walnut Creek, with graveside services following immediately at the Oakmont Memorial Park, 2099 Reliez Valley Rd., Lafayette. All are invited to attend and join in a celebration of her life! Visitation Friday, September 10, 2010 04:00 pm-08:00 pm