A memorial service will be held in her honor at 3 p.m., Thursday, December 1, 2011 at Shannon Rufe Snow Funeral Chapel.
Lynda Lou Blevins was born in Harris Hospital, Fort Worth, Texas on January 1, 1937. She grew up the pampered child of older parents in North Side, Fort Worth. Her dad worked for Swifts packing house and her mother was a stay at home mom. She attended Rosen Heights Baptist Church. She was a member of the Rainbow Girls. She wore beautiful hand made dresses sewn by her mother, and wore her hair in spiral curls. Shirley Temple did not hold a candle to Lynda Lou.
She had many dolls as a child, but only played with her beloved Patsy. Lynda Lou was warned for years that if she left Patsy outside at night that she would be stolen by gypsy’s. Well, it happened after being left out one night, and was never to be seen again. How many times did I hear Lynda mutter the words, “Patsy, Patsy, Patsy.) I found a Patsy doll reproduction a few years ago and replaced long lost Patsy.
She learned to play the piano, and practiced an hour before breakfast and an hour before dinner every day. She rode the city bus to her music lessons twice a week, on the Southside of Fort Worth. Her piano teachers were: Waylon B Moore for 4 or 5 years, then Mr. Pittenger for 3 years; then Dot Echols Oram for 3 years and Dots husband was the orchestra leader at the Majestic Theatre. Lynda recalled that Dot published a song that was used by the Daughters of the Republic of Texas for their centennial celebration. When Lynda Lou was small her mother took her to her piano lessons, but later she rode the bus by herself. Her mom used to tell us that she was so good at the piano that she could watch Jerry Lee Lewis on TV and play along with him. I only remember her playing Alice’s Restaurant.
Her parents had a gardener Mr. Eberhart, and his wife was Lynda’s caregiver, Mammy Eberhart, whom Lynda loved with all her heart.
Lynda recalled that she was not allowed to go barefooted outside and one day she decided to be defiant, and removed her shoes and socks and started running as fast as she could down the sidewalk. Of course, she stubbed her toe and it ripped the nail lose from her foot. She knew she would never hear the end of it if she admitted she was barefooted…outside, so she put her shoes and socks back on and hobbled home crying. Her parents were amazed that she was able to cause so much damage without tearing up her shoe.
Lynda was a majorette in the JP Elder Jr. High Marching Band and later in the North Side High band. She also played the bells in the school band. She won the tri-state twirling contest in ‘51 or ‘52, and used flaming batons for her performance.
She grew in to a 5’2” beauty, having dark brown eyes, dark brown hair, and a curvaceous figure with the prettiest legs in Fort Worth. She always thought she looked like Liz Taylor and mimicked her hairstyle until she lost her hair. She loved rock and roll, and loved to dance and remembered dancing in the 50’s at Casino Beach at Lake Worth, and also the Rocket on Jacksboro Highway. She loved Mexican Food, with Chile Rellenos being her favorite. She also liked Amaretto Sours, but only had one occasionally. She loved big jewelry, and bling. She loved nice purses, especially her Dooney’s. Bob Segar was her favorite musician.
Lynda married Robert Armstrong on July 20th, 1953, a marriage that lasted 58 years. Robert joined the service shortly after this and they lived on base in Denver Colorado and also lived in El Paso. Robert went to Guam for a while. Lynda gave birth to two boys during their Airforce years, Charles Robert, and Randal Alan. Later she gave birth to three daughters, Lisa Kaye, Shari Gay, and Kara Sue. They bought a house in Sabine Place on the corner of Elaine Place and DeRidder in 59 or 60 and raised their family there. Robert worked at the FAA and could walk across the street to go to work.
Lynda got a job at the Saginaw Post Office in the late 60’s as a mail clerk. Saginaw was made a part of the Fort Worth Post Office in the early 70’s and she transferred to the downtown office and was made a regular employee. Around 1973 she got a job as a maintenance control clerk and remained in that position until she accepted early retirement in 1991.
In the early summer of 1973, Robert and Lynda were out shopping and Lynda read an ad for a newly listed house in the paper and on a whim they went to look at it. They talked it over on the way home, and called to tell Mrs. Jones they wanted it. She was so proud of her new home. They finally had a house large enough for their family, and it also came with a pool. She loved to float in her pool but was afraid to let go of her float as she never learned to swim. She filled her home with beautiful antiques. She also bought a Chrysler convertible, but rarely drove with the top down because she did not want to mess up her hair.
Following Postal retirement, Lynda worked as Mrs. Claus in the family business, North Hills Photo until Santa (AKA Robert) decided to retire in 2006. Nobody loved Christmas more than Lynda, and she loved to Give Give Give. I think every one of their kids /grandkids worked either as Santa, the Easter Bunny, or as an Elf. They also had a photo booth at Billy Bobs Texas. She also worked for the Census Department for the 2000 census. She thoroughly enjoyed baby sitting her Great Grandson John Bach in 2002. In the last few years she loved to garden in her backyard, growing peppers, tomatoes and flowers.
She had 11 grandkids, and 17 great grand kids with another one on the way. She loved babies. She had three little white dogs that she loved during her life, Mia, a multi colored poodle; her beloved Pixie, a little Maltese who died in her arms, and now she leaves behind faithful Pixie 2.
Lynda was diagnosed with breast cancer in early December 2008. In May, 2011, she and Robert moved to her farm at 8740 Davis Blvd. She always dreamed of living there - and although she never built her dream house, her wish finally came true. She loved to go outside in the morning for her coffee and look at the trees and flowers. She even claims to have seen a cougar earlier this year.
Lynda never gave up hope of beating her cancer. She started Hospice Care with Texas Hospice in late August, 2011. We would like to thank the doctors and nurses and her excellent aid Latrice, for their loving care during her confinement. She succumbed on Sunday morning, November 27, 2011, just 5 weeks short of her 75th birthday.
Arrangements under the direction of Shannon Rufe Snow Drive Funeral Chapel, Fort Worth, TX.
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