Lyn Van Dusen

Lyn Billingsley Van Dusen was born to Jean Rodreick and Knox O. Billingsley, the eldest of their three daughters. She passed away peacefully at the age of 83 on July 10, 2023 at her home in Sugar Land, Texas. Lyn was born in Dallas, Texas and spent her early years living close to grandparents, aunts, and uncles in Highland Park where she attended Armstrong Elementary. After her father returned from military service during WWII, Lyn’s family relocated to Houston, Texas where she was a member of Bellaire Presbyterian Church and later St. Phillip Presbyterian Church.

Lyn attended Will Rogers Elementary, Lanier Junior High, and later graduated from Bellaire Sr. High School-part of its first graduating class. While in high school, Lyn wrote for the school newspaper which was a natural match for her love of writing and reading. She went on to pursue a journalism degree and graduate from Texas Women’s University. While in college, Lyn was offered a summer internship as a feature writer for the Dallas Morning News which she loved. Upon graduation she accepted a position as a feature writer and editor for the Women’s Section at The Houston Post. Lyn’s goal was to offer her readers more than the traditional fare of wedding engagements and social events. She sought to broaden the focus to include important medical topics touching the lives of women and the ever-changing responsibilities and challenges they faced in the 1960’s and 1970’s.

After many years working for the Houston Post, Lyn moved to Austin, Texas where she worked for the Texas Senate and became one of the first managing editors for Texas Monthly. In 1980, Lyn graduated from University of Houston Bates Law School and worked for seventeen years with Brown, Sims, Wise and White practicing maritime law and serving in the position of partner. During this time, one of her great joys was to represent and sail on the 1877 Tall Ship Elissa. Lyn’s keen perception and research skills served her well in many legal cases. She meshed her writing talent and knowledge of the law while serving as a contributing editor for the American Bar Association law journal.

In her spare time and in retirement, Lyn’s great love was gardening. It gave her great pleasure to look out the back windows of her 1930’s Southside cottage and see the beautiful Iris’s, Sweet Olive tree, thriving Honeysuckle, and Daffodils. As Lyn would say, “When you try lawsuits for a living in federal court, you satisfy your need for stability by keeping your garden in good order.” Her family will miss her sharp observations, listening ear and generosity.

Lyn was preceded in death by her sister Ann Kobdish of Dallas, Texas in 2007. Lyn is survived by her sister, Fran Krahl of Sugar Land, Texas and her brother-in-law, James Krahl. She is also survived by her nieces, Christina Kobdish of Bellingham, Washington, Sarah Frost of Fort Worth, Texas, Leigh Krahl of Dallas, Texas and nephew Stephen Krahl of College Station, Texas and numerous great nieces and nephews.

A Memorial Service will be held at 2:00 Thursday, July 27, 2023 at Sugar Land Methodist Church located at 431 Eldridge, Sugar Land, Texas 77498 followed by a private graveside service at the Adickes Addition of Oakwood Cemetery in Huntsville, Texas. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Fort Bend Seniors Meals on Wheels, P.O. Box 1488, Rosenberg, Texas 77471-1488 or the Houston SPCA, 7007 Old Katy Road, Houston, Texas 77024.