Dr. Llinda Hunt Hester

Dr. Linda Hunt Hester, noted educator and supporter of the arts, passed away on May 11, 2011 in Dallas, Texas, after a brief illness. Linda was born in Winston-Salem, N.C. on June 16, 1938. She was preceded in death by her parents, Hanselle Lindsay and Jennie Sarepta Hunt Hester, her sister, Jane French Hester, and her grandparents, Jerry Lee Hester and Elizabeth Stipe Hester and John Washington Hunt and Anna Eliza Green Hunt. Linda survived all immediate family members and was survived by fellow descendants of Joseph F. Green, including her uncle and cousins throughout Texas, and by her caregiver and friend, Mrs. Ruth W. Johns. Linda had an illustrious career in the world of education. She received a B.S. with honors in Health and Physical Education from the University of Wisconsin, an M.S. in Education from the University of Wisconsin, and a Ph.D. in Education from Michigan State University. Prior to retirement, she was a licensed educational counselor at the University of Wisconsin, an instructor at the University of Texas, Austin, Assistant Dean of Women at the University of Illinois, Urbana, and Dean of Women at Texas Woman's University. Linda was a member of Delta Kappa Gamma Society (International Education Honorary) and Alpha Lambda Delta Fraternity. She was especially fond of and devoted to the arts, serving on the Board of Trustees of the Dallas Opera, the Women's Board of the Dallas Opera, and was a member of the Dallas Opera Guild. Linda was also a Stradivarious member of the Dallas Symphony, an Associate member of the Dallas Museum of Art, a major donor to the Women's Museum, Dallas, Texas, a Friend of the Kimbell Art Museum, a member of the Committee of 1000 of the Naples Philharmonic Center of the Arts, Naples, Florida, and a member of the Board of Governors of TACA. All who knew Linda would attest to her brilliant mind. She was a member of Intertel and Mensa, the American Counseling Association, the American College Personnel Association, the National Association for Women in Education, and a Fellow of the College of Education at Michigan State University. Linda was named in Who's Who in the South and Southwest, American Education, American Women, America, and the World. She was named to the National Distinguished Service Registry, Counseling & Development. Linda was an accomplished golfer, with memberships in Brookhaven Country Club, Dallas, Texas, and Wyndemere Country Club, Naples, Florida. She was a member of Preston Hollow Presbyterian Church. Linda was vibrant and energetic, as evidenced by her being named in 2003 as one of the outstanding Texas women in Texas Women, Trailblazers, Shining Stars & Cowgirls. A memorial service will be held at Sparkman Hillcrest Funeral Home at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, May 21, 2011, with reception to follow. In lieu of flowers, it is requested that contributions be made to the Dallas Opera or another charitable organization of your choice devoted to education or the arts.