Linda Marie McGough Maher March 9, 1947 – June 12, 2026

Linda M. (McGough) Maher passed away peacefully and departed this earthly existence on the morning of June 12, 2026 at the Mount Nittany Hospital in State College, Pennsylvania.

She is survived by her husband, Richard, of State College, and her sister, Jane McKee of Philipsburg. She was preceded in death by her parents, Francis X. McGough and Alberta (Littel) McGough, and brother Frank McGough.

Linda was born on March 9, 1947, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She received her B.S. degree in Physical Education from Lock Haven State College, and taught at Warrior Run High School in Turbotville in a 30-year tenure as Educator and Coach.

Throughout her life, Linda was a devoted advocate for women of all ages, especially the students and athletes she had the privilege of teaching and coaching at Warrior Run High School. This commitment was shaped in large part by the values instilled by her basketball and field hockey coaches when she was a student at CollegevilleTrappe High School. As Warrior Run Girls’ Field Hockey Coach from 1969 to 1983, Linda had many outstanding players and teams, including the West Branch League Championships in 1974 and 1977.

Linda was the first Warrior Run Girls’ Basketball Coach, taking the team into league conference play. During her tenure from 1972 to 1982, her players achieved many successes, including the 1977 West Branch League Championship.

In the 1980s, Linda helped establish an Advanced Anatomy class at Warrior Run, a course that remained part of the curriculum through her retirement in 2000 and became a source of pride for both teacher and students.

Linda was a lifelong artist who explored many media as her interests evolved, including charcoal and pencil drawing, stained glass work, jewelry, free-form designs made with seashells collected along the East Coast, quilting projects with her good friend Doug Marme, resin sculpture, and, ultimately, clay sculpture.

Inspired by her love of creating and sharing art, Linda founded Finish Line Screen Printing Inc. in West Milton, Pennsylvania, in 1982. What began in a storage shed on her property grew into a five-employee business housed in a two-story building, serving local sports teams, youth clubs, high schools, and colleges until its sale in 2008.

Linda McGough was truly one of a kind. She had the rare ability to connect with students of every background and personality–athletes, scholars, musicians, artists, and those who needed extra patience and understanding. She recognized something worthwhile in each student, earning their trust and respect along the way. Linda held her students and athletes to high standards, while meeting them where they were and encouraging them to grow. Her unfailing sense of humor helped her find the human side of nearly every situation, and her strong sense of fairness led her to speak up when she saw something that needed to be addressed. Among her colleagues, Linda was respected as a talented artist, an avid reader, and a thoughtful voice in faculty and committee discussions, as well as in her interactions with staff and parents. She will be deeply missed by her former students, fellow faculty members, school personnel, family, and all who knew her and loved her.

A Celebration of Linda’s Life and her Artwork will be held at the Holiday Inn Express in State College on July 19 from 1 to 4 p.m., in the community room. This is to be an informal gathering, where friends, family, and associates can socialize, share, and remember the wonderful life of Linda.

A second Celebration will be held at The Inn at Lewisburg on July 26 from 1 to 4 p.m.

Arrangements are under the care of Koch Funeral Home, State College. Online condolences may be entered at www.kochfuneralhome.com.