Linda Vance, 86, passed away on Monday, May 26, 2025, at her home in Houston, Texas. Linda was born Linda Darlene Moore on August 9, 1938, in Fort Worth, Texas to Thomas Martin Moore and Willie Jeannette Polk Moore. She grew up in Corpus Christi and attended W.B. Ray High School, graduating in 1956. After high school Linda attended the University of Texas where she met her husband of twenty-three years, John, with whom she had four children: Linda, Valerie, John, and David. She obtained a B.S. in History from the University of Houston in 1964 and a Ph.D. in American History from the University of Florida in 1980. She taught at Texas A&M University and the University of Texas for several years and worked as Administrative Assistant and Chief Researcher for Warren Skaaren, late screenwriter and producer. She lived in Westlake Hills of Austin for nearly forty years before moving to Houston in 2019.
Linda had fond memories of growing up in Corpus Christi with her parents and younger sister. She loved to reminisce about her father's work: as a welder at the ammunition plant during World War II, owning a welding business, constructing the first A-frame Whataburger buildings, and owning one of the first Whataburger franchises. For a few years the family lived near Corpus Christi Bay in an Airstream where the table folded down to become Linda's bed. One of her favorite memories was of her father taking her fishing on the bay. She loved the Texas coast and returned to Corpus Christi many times and attended several of her high school reunions including her 50th.
After marrying, Linda lived in Austin, Houston, and Gainesville, Florida. While in Florida, she sailed with her family in many locales including the Gulf of Mexico, Tampa Bay, the St. John’s River, and the Bahamas. Her first of two books to be published was her Ph.D. dissertation, May Mann Jennings, Florida’s Genteel Activist, a biographical study of a prominent southern feminist and civic leader, with an overview of the women’s club movement in Florida. To foster education in women's history, Linda established the Linda D. Vance Fellowship in History at the University of Florida.
In 1982 Linda moved back to Austin and worked for Mr. Skaaren, supporting his work on scripts for Top Gun, Beverly Hills Cop II, Beetlejuice, Batman, and Days of Thunder, among others. Highlights of this work include meeting Tom Cruise and naming the character Karla in Beverly Hills Cop 2. When Warren became ill, Linda was his personal helper, trusted confidante, and served on the Board of his Charitable Trust for many years after his untimely death.
Always with a book and her notes by her side, Linda was an avid learner, reader, researcher, and book collector. She became a founding member of the Eanes History Center and published her second book, Eanes: Portrait of a Community. She contributed numerous historical articles to textbooks and almanacs, and book reviews to various publications. Other historical interests included Lord Nelson, the Mexican-American War, and World War I, which led to her volunteering at the Camp Mabry archives for many years.
Beyond historical pursuits, Linda loved gardening, plants, and trees. She became certified as a Texas Master Naturalist and was an active member of the Lost Creek Home and Garden Club. She enjoyed golf, played with women’s groups and in tournaments, and took pride in her hole-in-one at Lost Creek Country Club. Additional hobbies included crosswords, family genealogy, and baseball, first as a fan of the Chicago Cubs and later of the Houston Astros. Always an admirer of southwestern-style architecture and history, Linda proudly named her Lost Creek home "Casa Linda."
Beautiful in both body and spirit, Linda was a faithful member of the Christian Science Church for many years and was her grandson Brian’s greatest prayer warrior. She loved seeing and supporting her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren in all their endeavors.
Linda was preceded in death by her parents and her grandson Brian Locher, and she is survived by her children: Linda Stites of Lafayette, Colorado, Valerie Locher (Scott) of Houston, Texas, John Vance (Samantha) of Marietta, Georgia, and David Vance (Jessica) of Lafayette, Colorado; grandchildren Justin Smith (Rachel Stendahl-Smith), Lindsay Crowell (Riley), Elijah Vance (Ben Vogrin), Evan Vance, Joshua Vance, Lauren Locher, and Preston Vance; and great-grandchildren Raven and Gavin Smith, Penelope, Eleanor, and Beatrice Stendahl-Smith; and sister Kathleen Cousins and nephew Christopher Cousins (Nicole).
Private services will take place in Austin and in Fort Worth at the family plot. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Linda D. Vance Fellowship in History at the University of Florida.