Linda Pruett Groth

Linda Pruett Groth, a longtime resident of Atwater, CA., died peacefully in her sleep on Thursday January 4th, 2024.

 Linda Mae was born on August 30, 1941, to parents Richard Bishop & Betty Keithley in Oklahoma City, OK. There she attended school with her siblings and met and married John Pruett in 1958.  They were married 20 years and had 4 children.  The family lived in the bay area for a number of years before moving to the central valley in 1972 having bought a 40-acre parcel in Merced, CA where they grew crops and raised livestock trying their hand at ranch life.  As sometimes happens with young couples, they divorced in 1975.

Linda persevered, picked up the pieces and raised her children, all while putting herself through college.  She got a job at a prominent law firm in Merced working her way from the bottom to the top.  She started as a receptionist, legal secretary, legal assistant, paralegal and to the final goal of passing the Bar in 2002 and practicing law.  She received the prestigious honor to serve as president of the Merced County Bar Association in 2010.  During her career she also taught law classes at Merced Jr College and was a child advocate within the judicial system. She was also a member of the Merced Chapter Secretary’s Association.

She later, met and married Albert Groth in 1995, a Merced County Sherriff of 3 decades. Together they built a home and lived happily until his passing in 2014. She retired and lived in her home for another 8 years until Dementia required her to need skilled nursing care.  Sadly, she lost her battle with Dementia on Thursday Jan 4, 2024

She is survived by her 4 children, Karen Arellano, Kim Cardia, John Pruett, Kevin Pruett and 2 Stepchildren, Jackie Lau & Brent Groth. Linda is preceded in death by her Husband Albert Groth.

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