Linda And Wendell Edwards

A joint memorial service to celebrate the lives of Wendell and Linda Edwards will be held on Friday, October 11, 2024 at 1:00 p.m. at First Baptist Church, Commerce, TX.  The family requests that anyone attending their memorial consider wearing blue and gold or red, white, and blue.

We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God, who are called according to his purposes (Rom 8:28).  I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will be faithful to carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus (Phil 1:6).

Wendell Edward Edwards was born in Waco, TX in 1937 into a family of cotton and dairy farmers.  He graduated from West High School where he played every sport the school offered and was active in FFA, which included showing calves at the Houston Fat Stock Show. He graduated from Texas A&M University with a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in accounting. During his college years he was part of the wrestling team, the Corps of Cadets, and led Bible studies for college freshmen. He served in the Air Force between earning the two degrees and met Linda as he was finishing his service.

Linda Lucille Yeats was born on December 4,1941, three days before the attack on Pearl Harbor. At the time, her family lived in Denison, TX, where her father was building the Lake Texoma dam in Oklahoma. They later moved to Midwest City, OK, near Tinker Air Force Base, where she grew up. Linda loved music and studied piano, organ, and vocal performance.  After graduating from Midwest City High School, she learned secretarial skills in Oklahoma City and then studied music at Ouachita Baptist University in Arkansas. During this time, she served as a church pianist and accompanist for various choirs and vocal groups.

Wendell and Linda met through a mutual friend, stationed at Tinker Air Force Base. They joined their lives in December 1964 and served as a team for almost 60 years. They lived in Fort Worth for a few years, as Wendell worked as a CPA and earned his Doctor of Accounting from North Texas State.  They moved to Commerce in 1969 after the birth of their oldest daughter, Karen. Kathy was born 3 years later.

In Commerce, Wendell began his 38-year career with East Texas State University as Accounting Professor, including 22 years as Head of the Accounting Department.  He received numerous awards through the university, Texas Society of CPAs, and other professional organizations. He loved building relationship with his students, faculty, staff, and administration. The first day of class each semester his first assignment was to have students introduce themselves by asking them “What was your claim to fame?”  Wendell never missed an opportunity to share that his “claim to fame” was knowing Jesus and by His mercy and grace, “he was better than he deserved.” Though he was never known as the easiest professor, he was a favorite because he pushed student to be their best and to meet the high standards that he set for them.  He was a mentor and advisor to several of the international student groups at the university, accounting groups, and the basketball team. Wendell also enjoyed participating in university intramural sports including softball, basketball, and racquetball.  Both Wendell and Linda gave of their time and resources, investing in the lives of hundreds of college students.

Linda was a “mother of many.” She was a Girl Scout leader for both of her daughters’ troops, leading many years of camping, cooking, dancing, and cultural learning experiences.  Wendell was also a registered Girl Scout and chauffeured the troops wherever they needed to go and was there to do the heavy lifting, set-up, and tear-down. Linda helped lead children and youth mission groups and mission trips. She made sure every child had transportation, supplies, and everything they needed to learn and thrive.  Linda and Wendell attended ALL their girls’ sporting events, band competitions, cheer competitions, theatre performances, and other events with loud cheers and encouragement. They also attended as many of their grandchildren’s events as possible, and Wendell could always be heard cheering above everyone else.

Linda served as the secretary of the Baptist Student Union at East Texas State University beginning in 1979 and retired after 28 years of service. During her time and even after her retirement, she continued to be a mother away from home to college students, cooking and serving at noon luncheons, and assisting with coordinating numerous events.

Wendell and Linda faithfully served First Baptist Church of Commerce and community together. Together they taught the Married Young Adult class for over 20 years. Wendell also taught Children’s Church for 30+ years with Linda joining him for the last 20 years.  Those children grew up to be parents that pointed their children to God’s word and the legacy continues.  Wendell also served as a deacon for 50+ years. Linda was the piano and organ player during the worship service for many years. She also helped lead music at the weekly services at the nursing homes.  She led music in children’s church, children’s choir, and helped participate and lead in bell choirs.  Following retirement, in addition to Children’s Church, they continued their active service to the college students of First Baptist and the Baptist Student Ministry.  They both actively served within their memberships in the Sons and Daughters of the American Revolution and enjoyed teaching school age children the history of the United States as well as citizenship and character development.

Wendell and Linda shared a passion for serving international students and traveling to learn about different cultures.  Many years were spent hosting international students in their home as well as organizing events for visiting students.  Wendell stood in as father of the bride for an international student here and Linda made the wedding cake.  They even traveled to Taiwan to attend the wedding of student from the University.  Wendell’s career and passion for helping others took him and his family to Micronesia for 2 summers to help prepare the new country’s leaders to govern themselves when they were granted independence from the United States. Wendell and Linda used whatever opportunities and gifts they had to tell others about Jesus.

Linda was a survivor of 3 different cancers but did not let that slow her down serving others.  Even after Wendell’s stroke and moving to Katy, they continued to be active participants at Kingsland Baptist Church and used every opportunity to tell nurses, therapists, and caregivers about their faith, and encourage others however they could.

Wendell and Linda are survived by their daughter Karen, her husband Kevin Raumaker, and their children Madison Van Dam, Monica Raumaker, and Michaela Raumaker; daughter Kathy, her husband Kristopher Myers, and their children Nolan Myers and Ty Myers.  They also each have a remaining sibling, their families, and many extended family and friends.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Texas A&M-Commerce Baptist Student Ministry, Texas A&M Baptist Student Ministry, or to the ministry or missions of your local church.