Lynda forever forged her own way. After growing up in a small town in upstate New York, she moved to Chicago on her own for college. After graduating, she eventually settled in California and began her own medical billing business, building it from the ground up and retiring just a year ago.
In 1991, she met the man with whom she would spend the rest of her life, Warren Rowe, while dancing at the Quail’s Inn. After asking her if she wanted to share his washer and dryer, Warren and Lynda married on April 11, 1992. Together they raised their two children, Christopher and Sara. Lynda’s love of music and incredible sense of humor lives on in her son, while her legacy of baking and artistic nature lives on in her daughter. She was the most dedicated and selfless of mothers and wives, her pride and joy being her “nest.”
She enjoyed traveling and sharing new experiences with her family. They bonded over riding bikes to the candy store while camping in Carpinteria, freezing while watching the Rose Parade floats pass by in 2020, and sampling fried rattlesnake on their summer vacation to Arizona. Last year, the family was able to go on Lynda’s dream trip of seeing Old Faithful and the bison in Yellowstone National Park. Her family plans on continuing the tradition, cherishing the memories made and creating new ones in her honor.
Lynda is perhaps most well-known amongst her friends for her earnest advice and, of course, her wonderful get-togethers. Whether it was a pumpkin carving “competition” or a Christmas cookie exchange, she knew how to throw a party and enjoyed being surrounded by her friends’ laughter.
Besides her friends and family, her other great love was her pets. As many would joke, she truly was Dr. Dolittle. She leaves behind her two dogs, Mak and Luna, and reunites with the rest of her fur-babies that have already crossed over the Rainbow Bridge.
She is survived by her husband, Warren Rowe, her two children and their spouses, Christopher Medjber and Lori Lee, and Sara and Nicklos Bristol, as well as her mother, Cyrilla Thurston, and her 8 siblings: Laurie Bennett, Kenneth Thurston, Robert Thurston, Richard Thurston, Mark Thurston, Eliza Lawler, Benjamin Thurston and Daniel Thurston.
May Lynda’s legacy of love, strength, and light forever live on in all those who loved her.
A small celebration of life will be held at the Rowe family residence, details forthcoming.
