Linda Kay Bentley Smith

Linda Smith (formerly Thompson, née Bentley), 78, passed away peacefully at her home in Oro Valley on June 10, 2026, surrounded by the love of her family. Born on May 20, 1948, in Syracuse, New York, to Bob and Dorothy Bentley, Linda lived a life defined by a genuine zeal for living, learning and appreciating the world and its potential. In 1956, her family—including her younger brother, Jim, and sister, Connie—moved to Phoenix, Arizona, back when it was still a small desert town. As a child and teenager, Linda excelled as a student and loved dancing, music, and intramural sports. The Bentley family lived on a 2.5 acre property filled with grapefruit trees, where they kept multiple horses for riding around the neighborhood and exploring the surrounding desert trails.

After graduating from Washington High School with honors, Linda attended Glendale Community College and later Northern Arizona University, where she earned her B.A. in Education and met her first husband, Tyler Thompson, who she married in 1972. In her 20s, Linda channeled her incredible "good ear" for music into a vibrant career in radio and the music business. She started as a secretary at the album-oriented station KDKB, working her way up to DJ and ultimately Music Director, alongside roles at KBBC and MCA Records throughout the 1970s. When she became a mother, Linda transitioned her passion to teaching at Orangewood Elementary School, where she built a wonderful community of lifelong friends. True to her nature, she constantly went above and beyond—choreographing school musicals, bringing science and Arizona history to life in the classroom, and planning educational field trips across the state. During this time, she also furthered her own education, earning an M.Ed. in Guidance and Counseling, and ultimately a Ph.D. from Arizona State University in Educational Administration and Supervision.

Linda was a devoted daughter, wife, mother, grandmother (and "dog-mom" to many beloved golden retrievers). She cherished quality time with family, especially during the holidays and the changing seasons. She enjoyed family trips to Sedona, Maui, various national parks, and special West Coast beach towns. She was a true role model to her children, grandchildren, and students. She loved introducing them to new life experiences, and encouraged them to find their passions and pursue their interests with commitment. During her time in New Mexico, she met her second husband, Curt, and they married in 2013 in Silver City. Curt and Linda moved to Tucson in 2016 to be closer to family, creating a beautiful life together in the Arizona Sonoran desert she loved so much. Linda made friends wherever she went and will forever be remembered for her love of music, family, animals, nature, the planet, sports (especially baseball), her passion for education, and for living a full and well-rounded life.

Linda was preceded in death by her parents, Bob and Dorothy Bentley. She is survived by her husband, Curt Smith; her first husband, Tyler Thompson; her siblings, Jim and Connie; her daughters, Josie and Chelsie; her grandchildren, Scott and Jessica; and her golden retriever, Kona.

A celebration of Linda’s life will be held in the late summer in Arizona, with the date and location to be determined. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Pacific Whale Foundation https://pacificwhale.org/ or World Wildlife Fund https://www.worldwildlife.org/