Lynda Tipton Foret

Lynda Kay Foret, age 78, passed away peacefully in her sleep on Monday, November 1, 2021.

A daughter, Linda Kay (aka Katherine), was born June 28, 1943, to Sgt. and Mrs. Anthony (Tony) G. Panard (aka Panarotto) and Marion (nee Rohns) of Kenosha, Wisconsin. Sgt. Panard was serving overseas during World War II with the Army Intelligence Corps Office of Strategic Services (OSS). Just 7 months later, Sgt. Panard was killed in the Battle of Anzio without ever meeting his new baby girl, leaving a widowed wife, and loving family behind.

While her mother completed an undergraduate degree, Lynda frequently stayed between her Panard Family grandparents, Francesco and Angelina, and two aunts, Celia and Anna, in Saute Saint Marie, Caspian and Marquette, Michigan on the Upper Peninsula. Her Rohns grandparents and family in Grand Rapids and Glen Haven on Lake Michigan also shared in Lynda’s upbringing in her early years. Then and there, Lynda acquired a deep appreciation for her Italian roots and love for her father. Their warmth, wisdom and solid family values were gifts Lynda cherished all of her days.

During World War II, Tony served with Thomas Lafayette Tipton, Junior. Upon Tony’s death in the War and following Lynda’s birth, Tom wrote a letter of condolence to Tony’s widow, Marion. Following their continued correspondence and subsequently meeting, Lynda’s mother remarried after graduation, and they moved to Highland Park in Dallas, Texas.

Her stepfather, Thomas L Tipton, Tom not only became Lynda’s stepfather, but he also chose to formally adopt her and give her his surname officially and became her Daddy when he adopted her at age 5. She later became the best Big Sister ever to younger Tipton siblings, Noelle, Julie, and Tommy (TLT, III now deceased). Lynda graduated from Bellaire High School a year after the family moved to Houston and went on to earn her bachelor’s degree in education with a music minor from Texas Tech University in Lubbock.

Following her college graduation, she continued to live in Lubbock, then lived in Ft. Worth and San Antonio, and upon her return to Houston, Lynda worked as a telephone operator for AT&T, and a teletype/telephone operator for several international shipping companies out of the Port of Houston, including Norton Lily, before going to work for The Methodist Hospital in the Texas Medical Center in Central Supply administration, where she worked until she retired.

Though Lynda’s strong work ethic generated nearly 50 years of virtually uninterrupted employment, she’d be the first to say, without hesitation, her greatest joy came from her marriage to Timothy Joseph Foret, her loyal and faithful partner and husband sharing 35 years of love together. They had more than their share of struggles and challenges but always could find strength in one another. Theirs was a love that would stand the tests of time.

In 1986, she met Tim Foret, and after a long-term romance, they later married on September 30, 1995. They celebrated their 26th wedding anniversary this past September. Although they had no children, they had numerous nieces and nephews on both the Tipton and Foret sides as well as many other family members and friends with whom they enjoyed spending time. Lynda was an avid reader, walker, ice skater and musician as well as an enthusiastic Russian, British and Egyptian history student and a passionate animal, orchid and gardenia lover. Lynda definitely enjoyed sharing her interests (and strong opinions!) with everyone she knew.

She was known to be her own person with definitive beliefs, wishing to be a fiercely independent and empowered female while being delicate, yet strong in the circumstances that warranted this. Tim, on one occasion, even awarded her a “Master of Hearts” degree confirming his profound love and affection for her.

In addition, Lynda was an accomplished musician. She studied and played piano throughout her childhood and teenage years before deciding to pursue her baccalaureate degree in music education. While in mid-life, she decided to learn the Russian balalaika. She soon became proficient enough to become a member of the Houston Balalaika Orchestra, a group that she performed with on many occasions, including several times at the Texas Renaissance Festival, in full Russian gypsy costume. She even attended several national Balalaika association conventions, the last being in New Orleans in 2002.

Lynda was preceded in death by her mother, Marion Rohns Panarotto Tipton, her father Anthony G. Panarotto, her adoptive father whom she called “Daddy” Thomas L. Tipton, Jr., her brother Thomas L. Tipton, III, brothers-in-law Hector Alejandro Jose Monti and Faramarz Sabet Safari, her grandparents “Nono and Nona” Panard, maternal grandparents, Alice and Paul Rohns and Tipton grandparents, Thomas, Sr., and Joe Celia. She was also preceded in death by her mother-in-law, Della Prejean and father-in-law, Jesse Foret.

She is survived by her husband Timothy J. Foret, sister Noelle T. Zimen and husband Amir, sister Julie T. Monti-Safari, niece and nephew, Gina Monti and Farzan Safari, brother-in-law Ali A. Jadidi and wife Farrah, nephews Sharif A. Jadidi, Jeffrey Brian Tristan and wife Sally, cousins Patricia Bickler Daine, Kevin A. Bickler, George W. “Buddy” Tipton, MD and wife Brenda, Ellen Tipton, William E. Tipton, Jr. and wife Donna, Diane T. Land and husband Steve Adler, and Benjamin Tipton, as well as a host of Tipton, Rohns and Panard cousins.

On the Foret side, she is survived by Tim’s sister, Jeannie Foret Moore and his half-sisters, Karen Herzberg and Virginia Bounds. Lynda and Tim also had numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, and nephews on the Foret side with whom they also enjoyed having family ties.

Her visitation ceremony will be held on Tuesday, November 9, 2021, between 6:00 pm and 8:00 pm at Earthman Bellaire Funeral Home, 4525 Bissonnet Street, Bellaire, TX 77401 (Tel: 713-667-6505).

Though Lynda is no longer physically with us, she will be profoundly missed by all and will be forever present in the hearts and minds of everyone who knew and loved her. In lieu of flowers, please remember her and pay your tribute to her life by giving your generous donation to the charities, libraries, and animal shelters of your choice.