Linda Herrington

Linda was born November 23, 1939 in San Francisco, California to William Strout and Helen Thatcher. She was nicknamed “Lindy” by her father. The family moved to San Mateo, California when Linda was a baby, and then her mom and dad moved to San Diego, California in search of employment. After attending kindergarten in San Diego, Linda completed first grade in Denver, Colorado and then moved to Salt Lake City, UT where she began second grade. “Lindy” later finished second grade in the Chicago public schools.

Still during World War II, the family moved from Chicago to Long Beach, CA where Linda attended third grade, and then to Glendale, CA for her fourth and fifth grade years. She lived in Los Altos, CA during her middle school years, but then moved back to San Diego, CA where she attended Herbert Hoover High School for two years. Linda finished high school in Texas where she excelled in speech and drama at Spring Branch High School, graduating in 1957.

After high school, Linda attended Sara Lawrence College for two years, then transferred to The University of Texas at Austin where she earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in May of 1961, with a major in elementary education and a minor in psychology.

On December 6, 1961, Linda married Tommy Allen Herrington, who after graduating from The University of Texas School of Law, practiced law in Austin for over 30 years, and recently retired to Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.

During her 39-year career in Austin, Linda taught at several elementary schools including fourth grade at Mathews Elementary. Linda gave birth to her daughter, Mary, while she was at Matthews, and a few years later, as she took a break from teaching, her son, William, was born.

Linda later taught fourth grade at Pecan Springs Elementary, and also taught fifth grade at the original Summit Elementary School in the early 1970’s.

In the mid 1970’s, Linda and Allen moved their family to Round Rock where she began her career in Round Rock ISD teaching fourth grade at Deepwood Elementary in 1977. She also taught fourth grade at Purple Sage Elementary in 1981 and served as a part-time assistant principal the following year.

Upon completing her mid-management certification at the Southwest Texas State University in the summer of 1982, Linda was employed as an assistant principal at Round Rock ISD’s Grisham Middle School. Linda returned to Purple Sage as principal from the fall of 1984 until 1987.

On June 27, 1985, in the midst of her long education career, Linda took time out to marry the love of her life, David Moore.

In 1987, she returned to Grisham Middle School as the school district’s first female secondary school principal.

Linda continued to serve as principal of Grisham Middle School until she had the opportunity to open the first Hopewell Middle School in Round Rock in 1996. She also opened the second Hopewell Middle School in 2001 where Linda she served as principal until her retirement from public education in 2003.

Linda loved spending time with her children and grandchildren. She also enjoyed reading, gardening, cooking, home decorating, long walks and day hikes with her husband, theatre, live concerts, music, movies, traveling in New Mexico, and, as always, devoting her life to teaching and mentoring children of all ages.

The family is deeply grateful to all the wonderful women at The Cottages at Chandler Creek in Round Rock for the exceptional love and care they provided Linda during her short, but difficult illness. Special thanks also go to Resolution Hospice for their care and compassion for Linda in her final days.

Her father, William Strout, and her mother, Helen Strout, preceded her in death.

Linda is survived by her husband, David Moore, of Round Rock, Jamie and Mary Purcell of Victoria, TX, William and Alison Doyle Herrington of Round Rock, Brian and April Strickler of Cincinnati, OH, Robert Moore of Austin, and 5 grandchildren. She is also survived by her brother, Bill Strout, of Valley Cottage, New York.

Visitation will be held from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. on Monday, October 18th at Weed-Corley-Fish Funeral Home, North Lamar. Memorial services will be held at 3:00 p.m. on Tuesday, October 19, 2010 at All Saints’ Episcopal Church in Austin, TX.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to All Saints’ Episcopal Church or the Alzheimer’s Association.