Sister Linda Bates (formerly Sister Claudia), age 86 of the Sisters of St. Francis in Oldenburg, Indiana, died on August 22, 2026, at the Motherhouse in Oldenburg, Indiana. Born in Rushville, Indiana, she was the oldest of five children born to Lawrence and Anna (nee: Trader) Bates. Her father served as pay clerk and her mother as secretary for Fort Benjamin Harrison, Indianapolis.
Sister Linda attended Scecina High School in Indianapolis for one year and continued her education at ICA Aspirancy (now Oldenburg Academy). She went on to receive her bachelor’s degree in English from Marian College. She then continued her education at Xavier University, Cincinnati where she obtained a master’s degree in education. She later attended Seattle University in Washington, obtaining a master’s degree in Pastoral Ministry.
The first 11 years of Sister Linda’s mission was devoted to teaching grades 5-8 in Indiana, with another eight years of serving as a principal. In 1983, she became Pastoral Associate, serving in Iowa and Michigan. While in Iowa City, Sister Linda was named chairperson of the city’s Ecumenical Consultation, an alliance of 19 area churches. She was only the second woman to serve the lead post in the Consultation’s 21-year history. In 1995, she returned to Marian University as Campus Minister, and later as a teacher in the Theology Department. She then returned as a Pastoral Associate in Harrisville, West Virginia for six years. For another seven years, she served as Parish Life Coordinator for St. Nicholas in Sunman and Milan, Indiana. During that time, she was a 2012 Franciscan Banquet Honoree, having spent many years living out the theme of Franciscan Federation, “Releasing energies to love” as an Oldenburg Franciscan.
Sister Linda returned to the Motherhouse in 2018, where she could often be found reading newspapers and participating in the activities provided by St. Clare Hall. Sister Linda just celebrated her 70th Jubilee Year as an Oldenburg Franciscan.
She is survived by her brothers Steve and Mike (Marie), as well as several nieces, nephews, and cousins. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her brother John (Judy), her sister Jane, and her sister-in-law Alice.
Prayer and visitation will be Thursday, August 27, at 10:00 a.m. followed by the Mass at 11:00 a.m., all at the convent chapel. The burial will be at the Motherhouse Cemetery in Oldenburg. For those unable to attend, services will be live streamed at https://youtube.com/live/N4h1jX83qxI?feature=share.
Memorials may be made to the Sisters of St. Francis, P.O. Box 100, Oldenburg, Indiana 47036 Donate Online – SISTERS OF ST. FRANCIS (oldenburgfranciscans.org). For online condolences, please go to www.weigelfh.com.