Philena Linda Smith

November 15, 1918 - November 28, 2017

Linda was the daughter of Wayne and Linda Darrow, New Yorkers who moved to Texas in 1915 when Wayne homesteaded a section of land near Floydada. Linda was born nearby in Plainview on Nov. 15, 1918, but she spent most of her childhood in Bryan with her parents, her older brother, Tom, and younger sisters, Margaret and Julianne. The family moved to the Washington, D.C. area where Linda spent most of her teenage years. Linda returned to Texas and attended Texas State College for Women in Denton before moving to Fort Worth in 1939. The move to Fort Worth proved to be a life-defining decision because it was there that on a blind date she met Bart Smith. They were married on July 8, 1941. Theirs was a marriage in the truest sense of the word, a genuine partnership that lasted 61 years, until Bart died in 2002. In another era Linda might have pursued a professional career. Instead she gladly accepted the role of the strong woman behind the successful man. Linda considered her main role in life to provide a safe, loving and nurturing home for Bart and their sons Steve and Doug. Linda was active at Trinity Episcopal Church since 1950. Among her volunteer activities were serving as a docent at the Amon Carter Museum and driving many years for Meals on Wheels. Linda is survived by one sister: Julianne Humar of Fort Worth; sons: Steve Smith and his wife Pam of Fort Worth, and Doug Smith and his wife Katherine of Austin; grandchildren: Tyler Smith of Austin, Samantha Smith of Fort Worth, and Bret Smith of Austin; great grandchildren: Garrett Greddell of Missoula, Montana, and Miranda Bott of Fort Worth; nephew: Raymond Darrow of Fort Worth, and other extended family members