Linda Howe in the church sanctuary at The Methodist Church in Bethel. Susan Young photo

Editor’s Note: Over the next few weeks we would like to introduce our readers to the correspondents who faithfully write town news each week.

BETHEL — Linda Howe, columnist for Bethel, is a minister at the local Methodist church. She calls her faith “a strong influence in my life. Even though I was raised Catholic, I discovered the Methodist church from my mother-in-law, Joan.” She especially developed interest in the church due to “their history of Social Justice and serving others.” Howe works to arrange events through the Methodist church, including the monthly Soup’s on program.

Howe was immersed in religion early in her life, attending Catholic school and being taught by nuns from kindergarten all the way up to 8th grade. Now, in retirement, as she takes a Bible class with a Catholic nun, she describes the experience as having “gone full circle.”

Throughout her life, she has has met many influential people who have helped shape her path, and wished to thank each of them, listing each person here as someone who provided a major contribution to her life: Hope Tibbets, Brenda Wodka, Muriel Butters, Sylvia Clanton, Ginny Kenniston, Ginny Walker, Judy Barker, Evelyn Kimball, Barbara Gallant, Ethel Ward, Joan Howe, Gailey Wheeler, Sarah Stevens, Hulda Stevens, Lyndell Carter, Muriel Faudi, Jane Young, Edna York and Rachael Mckay.

In retirement, religion has become her primary focus. However, in the past she also served as a teacher in RSU 10 (formerly SAD 43). She spent 25 years as a Title I teacher in Rumford, working with grades K-5. Her primary work was with reading recovery with first graders.

Her job there was to help kids who were behind with reading, and bring them up to the same reading level as their peers. She described first grade as a “crucial time” for helping students learn to read, and develop their literacy. She has fond memories of her time there, saying, “We laughed every day.”

In retirement, her main focus is religion and helping the church and being a minister. She says, “My retirement years are ones of serving my church and maintaining my faith in God.” She takes pride in her work at the church, and stands by their policy of “Open minds, open hearts, open doors.”