Linda Lee Wilson Sylva went to be with the Lord early in the morning of February 1, 2025. She was 84 years old, born May 23, 1940, in Port Arthur, Texas. Linda grew up with her sister, Betty, and visited their Mississippi relatives twice a year. Beginning piano lessons at 7 years old, Linda continued teaching and playing throughout her life, for church and various audiences in the community. Organizing and working with children’s singing groups were part of her life as well.
Growing up in Port Arthur, Linda enjoyed church activities, and her group of close girlfriends called, “the Gang.” She was also a strong swimmer and played sports. In junior high, she walked and rode bicycles 2 miles to school, with neighbors, and special friend, Pat Fisher. Early Saturday morning piano lessons were the result of finding a Julliard graduate to teach her; this meant riding the city bus across town, as a 12-year-old!
The family moved to Nederland in 1954, which was a very different experience. However, Linda found her place in high school though piano, band, speech contests, participating in plays, National Honor Society, and church at First Baptist, where she played piano for the church through high school. She also began teaching piano lessons to young children. A special honor was being asked to sing at the high school prom and graduation.
Linda had a life-long dream of going to college at Baylor University, which she realized. However, family finances caused her to transfer to Lamar University in Beaumont, where she graduated in 1962 with a degree in Music Education and Piano Performance. While in the music department at Lamar, Linda met Doug Sylva, and they married on May 28, 1962. After a summer of coursework for further certifications, she began teaching in Nederland, Texas, and continued to teach 5th grade in various school districts, while Doug finished college and began his high school band directing career. Linda would accompany Doug’s band students in their contest solos each year. In Dayton, Texas, Linda was selected to attend the Governor’s Council on Children and Youth in the late 1960’s.
In 1970, Linda followed Doug to Spring Branch ISD in the Houston area, where she continued teaching 5th grade music and English at Spring Shadows Elementary, forming the first Children’s Choir in the district. Linda accepted an Assistant Principal’s position in 1973 at Ridgecrest Elementary. A highlight was being the recipient of the President’s Freedom Foundation Award, as well as publishing educational articles. Achieving a grant for a room full of computers was a first for an elementary school in the district, and Linda spent her summers earning a master's degree from Sam Houston University in Huntsville, Texas. When she left Ridgecrest Elementary, Linda was honored when the faculty and students presented her with a handcrafted quilt, whose individual squares were made by every class there.
1978 brought the birth of her precious redheaded, blue-eyed, daughter. Julie was cared for by a school parent, who was an English Nanny, until she was a year old. 1979 brought a career change and move, when Doug became a Kwik Kopy Printing franchise owner, and the family moved to San Angelo, Texas. Linda began teaching at Bowie Elementary and was selected to originate and implement the first San Angelo Gifted and Talented (SAGE) program. In 1982, Linda became principal at Travis Elementary, and supervisor of the SAGE program. While at Travis, she achieved the Texas Blue Bonnet Award for school recognition, Exemplary Status from the state, as well as implementing an innovative curriculum and program of development for children in grades 1-3.
As Linda’s life would have it, she began as the accompanist for Sierra Vista United Methodist Church in 1982. She continued that work long after retiring from SAISD in 1998, and was also hired at Angelo State University as the Student Teacher Supervisor, where she remained for 7 years. In 2010, Linda began teaching piano students in her home. She enjoyed many other activities, such as daily walking through her neighborhood, drawing, writing, and creating projects.
Survivors include: daughter, Julie Sylva; sister, Betty Moody; niece and husband, Jenny and Whit Boyd; nephew and wife, Kevin and Shelly Dowden; 5 great nieces and a nephew, Tiffany, Stephanie Evan, Sarah, Phoebe, Prisca, and Shelby; 2 great nephews, Atticus and Phineas; as well as distant cousins and their families.
The viewing will be at Harper Funeral Home on Thursday, February 6th, from 5-7pm. Linda’s funeral will be at 10am on Friday, February 7th, with graveside to immediately follow, at Lawnhaven Memorial Gardens.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Sierra Vista UMC Music Fund.
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