Pamela “Pam” W. Lindstrom, 72 of Eureka, California, died August 28, 2016, after a struggle with Lewy Body Dementia. During her last few weeks, she was surrounded by her family. Pam was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, sister, aunt and friend.   She was born in Atlantic City, New Jersey on May 10, 1944, to H. Fisk Whitehead and Lois Whitehead.

Pam is survived by her husband of 31 years Ralph Lindstrom, his children, Kathryn, Kim, Shelly, Leonard, Eric, and Vanessa: 9 grandchildren: Sarah, Cory, Kaitlyn, Emily, Jessica, Matthew, Miranda, Brittany, and Miles: 8 great grandchildren: Rylan, Audrey, Mason, Emma, Abigail, Mason, Emriee, and Cheyene; sisters: Deborah Prevost and Mary McCarthy; brother: Harvey Whitehead;  niece: Cortney Prevost Clendening; and nephews: Nathan Whitehead, and R.J. and Tucker McCarthy.  Pam is preceded in death by her parents.

As a youth, Pam was an accomplished competitive swimmer and later became an avid scuba diver.  After graduating from the University of California at Santa Barbara, Pam entered the teaching profession and spent the next 37 years devoting herself to the education of children as a teacher, administrator and business owner.  She earned a Masters Degree in Education, a Reading Specialist Certification, and a Resource Specialist credential in addition to her Administrative Credential. She was truly a life long learner. After teaching for San Jose Unified School District and Loleta School, she devoted her time to building Moore Avenue Children’s Center which she developed into a very successful child development program. She later expanded to Tiny Tots Preschool and Uniontown Children’s Center. Hundreds of local children benefited from these wonderful programs. In addition, Pam thoroughly enjoyed teaching child development courses at College of the Redwoods. Prior to retirement, Pam worked for 10 years as an elementary school principal with Eureka City Schools.

Pam was devoted to her family.  She was a wonderful cook and her home was often filled with family and friends enjoying her hospitality. She loved gardening, raised orchids and was an avid reader, to name just a few of her interests.  She loved travel and adventure, enjoying places such as Greece, Belize, Costa Rica, Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands, and Hawaii. She was strong and compassionate, and gave tirelessly of herself.  During her career and after her retirement in 2003, she continued her service by holding a position on the Board of CASA,  participating with Humboldt Sponsors, and teaching workshops through her religious fellowships. On a 10-day trip to Costa Rica, she developed and opened a school for the children of the village they visited.There will be a Celebration of Life held on October 16 from 1:00 to 4:00 at the Elks Lodge  at 445 Herrick Avenue, Eureka, CA.