Linda Howard

Linda Whitford Howard was born on 10/12/1941 in Bristol, TX to John William Whitford and Gracie Barker Childress. She attended elementary school in Bristol and graduated from Waxahachie High School in 1958. She attended secretarial school and during the course of her career she worked for Sun Oil Company in Dallas and Chapman, Chapman, Ellison & Hines, Attorneys at Law before completing her career as the backbone of Howard Construction. After being sweethearts in high school, Linda and Wendell were married by Brother Raney on 6/25/1959. After years of prayer, discussion and effort Linda and Wendell decided to share their hearts and home and adopted their first child Lisa Lynn Howard in August of 1966 from Hope Cottage. Several years later, after deciding they had much more love to give, Linda and Wendell adopted their second child Jason Wayne Howard in January of 1976 from St. Marks. Linda Howard's life was a testament to her love for her Lord and Savior, husband, family and friends. She was known for her inexhaustible generosity, strength, stubbornness and survival. She survived three battles with cancer and despite insurmountable odds chose to live a full life. Linda refused to let her body make her weak; instead choosing to let her determination to live and be there for her family give her the strength to defy the medical prognoses. On August 4, 2012, early in the morning, Linda went peacefully into the arms of Jesus with her husband of 53 years by her side. Linda is survived by her husband Wendell, children Lisa, Scott, Jason and Kelly, grandchildren Hayli, Chase, Abbie, Tanner and Mason, sister Myrtle Fay Sparkman and family, brother and sister-in-law Billy & Linda Whitford and family, sister-in-law Irene Whitford and family, baby brother Larry Childress, brother in-law Bobby Howard and family, brother-in-law and sister-in-law Bill & Minnie Howard and family, special aunt LouAnn Reynolds, cousin Beverly Richards & family and cousin Claudia Reynolds and family. She was preceded in death by her parents, brothers Johnny Ray and Ronald, mother and father in-law Loyd and Jenelle, special uncle Bennie Ray Reynolds, cousin Phillip Reynolds and a host of very dear family and friends. The family would like to extend their deepest appreciation to their family and friends for their support and love during Linda and Wendell's journey. Linda admired the staff at Family Care of Texas and Family First Hospice for the wonderful care they provided not only to her but to Wendell as well. The Howard family would like to extend a special Thank You to Amber, Rusty & Marissa Wells for their unconditional love, support and contributions to the care of Linda and her family. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Ferris Heights United Methodist Church in Waxahachie, TX in Linda Howard's honor.

Previous Events