Linda Langham Cole

LINDA HENNIGER LANGHAM COLE, age 84, passed away into the loving arms of Jesus, on Tuesday, the 18th of December 2012. She was a native Houstonian, born on the 10th of November 1928, to Waldemar Frederick Henniger and Ida Frances Snyder Henniger. Linda was predeceased by her parents and her brother Dr. Fred Henniger of Dallas She attended River Oaks Elementary, Lanier Middle School, and Lamar High School where she excelled on the swimming team. She graduated from the University Of Texas in 1949, and was also a member of the swimming team and Chi Omega Sorority.

On the 11th of June 1949, she married her high school sweetheart, Thomas H. Langham III. They moved to Virginia where Tom was an officer in the US Army. Later they moved to Fort Bliss In El Paso where Tom completed his military service. Upon their return to Houston, Tom began a long career in the family company, Stewart and Stevenson. After a short stay in Waco, they moved back to Houston to stay, with Tom moving up to the Presidency of the company until his death in 1988.

On the 25th of May 1990, Linda married Colonel Newton V. Cole, retired Air Force Chaplain from San Antonio, Texas. After their marriage, they returned to Colorado each summer where Newt served as summer pastor of the Tin Cup Community for 23 years. Linda’s service and role as pastor’s wife was appreciated and admired throughout the area. She took an active part in worship, music, Bible Study and social activities in the Taylor Park, Tin Cup and Spring Creek communities.

Linda was always an active leader in community, social and church life. For many years she was a participating leader in fund raising for the Center for Hearing and Speech. An avid supporter of Houston Chi Omega activities, she chaired numerous fund raising activities.

When she found her way into Bible Study Fellowship, it proved to be one of the joys of her life to study all the way through the Bible.

She became a leader in the growth and development of the Spring Creek Ladies Bible Study for the past 20 years. Later, she was elected to a six year term as a member of the Executive Board of the Baptist General Convention of Texas. She never missed a meeting, even traveling from Colorado to Dallas on numerous occasions. In Colorado she served as a member of the Board of the Rainbow Subdivision. She and her husband established a scholarship for ministry students at Truett Seminary, a division of Baylor University, where they will be honored with a plaque and luncheon in 2013. Her life and words were a witness to many.

Growing up Linda hunted and fished with her father. This translated into a lifetime of fly-fishing, even when very few women were considered proficient in that role. Each summer she taught her grandchildren the art of fly-fishing. In 2007, she suffered a massive stroke while fishing, and only the medical skills of the staff at St.Mary’s Medical Center in Grand Junction saved her life. On November 6,she became critically ill and was placed in ICU. For the next six weeks she fought for her life to the very end.

Linda was the mother of three children, daughters Susan Mendenhall of Burleson (Leslie); Lisa West Uresti (Art) of Houston; and son Thomas H. Langham IV,(Doina) of Houston. Linda was grandmother to Meridith Mendenhall Powell (Bryan) of Frisco, Texas, and three great grandchildren; Brett Mendenhall (Jennifer) of Fulsher, Texas and two great grandchildren; Lee Mendenhall (Christy) of Tomball, Texas, and a great-grandson; Laura West Neal (Drew) Of Longmont, Colorado, and three great-grandchildren; Christina West Grabowski (Dan) of Livingston, Montana, and one great-grandchild; Thomas West (Annie) of Katy, Texas, and two great-grandchildren; Aileen West (Peter) of Austin, Texas. She was also step-mother to Susan Cole (Makoto) of Seattle; Charlie Cole (Rosa) of Bali, Indonesia; David Cole (Deborah) of Converse, Texas; she was also step- grandmother to Laura Petruta Micu of Bucharest, Romania, and Souvik Cole of Seattle.

A memorial service is to be conducted at half-past eleven o’clock in the morning on Friday, the 21st of December, at Houston’s First Baptist Church, 7401 Katy Freeway in Houston.

Immediately following, all are invited to greet the family during a reception in the nearby reception room.

Prior to the memorial service, the family will have gathered for a private interment at Forest Park Lawndale Cemetery in Houston.

In lieu of customary remembrances, and for those desiring, memorial contributions may be directed to the Center for Hearing and Speech, 3636 West Dallas Street, Houston, TX, 77019; or to Woodhaven Baptist Deaf Church, 9920 Long Point Road, Houston, TX, 77055.