Linda Grumbles Allen

life story

Teacher, Majorette, Pianist, Loving Aunt

Linda Beth Grumbles Allen, 76, passed away January 29, 2013 in Henderson, Texas. She was born Nov. 21, 1936 in Atlanta, Texas, the daughter of the late Dr. Ernest W. Grumbles and the late Ella Pattee Grumbles. A 1955 graduate of Atlanta High School, Mrs. Allen was a majorette and drum major at Atlanta High School. She was known for her majorette performances in which she twirled fire.

Mrs. Allen attended the University of Texas at Austin, majoring in elementary education. She was a member of the Alpha Gamma Delta sorority at UT and graduated from UT in 1959. While at UT, she was a member of the "Texas Stars," the majorette line of the Longhorn Band that performed with the band in the 1950s and 1960s.

A talented pianist, Mrs. Allen enjoyed playing the piano at all friend and family gatherings. She included music in her teaching career in the Houston Independent School District. She played piano for her elementary school's annual Christmas program. Mrs. Allen served as vice president of the Association of Childhood Education.

She is survived by a son, Richard Rogers Jr., and daughter-in-law, Debra Rogers, of San Antonio; a sister, Gay Grumbles Haller, and brother-in-law, Richard L. Haller, of Fort Worth; a niece, Beth Haller of Towson, Md.; a niece, Diana Grumbles of Dallas; a nephew, Ernest Grumbles III and his wife Mary McGreevy, both of St. Paul, Minn.; and sister-in-law, Margretta Aviles of Dallas. She was preceded in death by her brother, Ernest W. Grumbles Jr.