Houston & Linda Crowder

Linda (nee McLennan) and Houston Crowder, both from Lynchburg, Virginia, met at E. C. Glass High School, at the time, Linda, a freshman, and Houston, a junior.  Houston, upon graduation, attended Louisburg Junior College in Louisburg, North Carolina. In 1962, after Linda’s completion of her high school studies, the two married. 

The couple settled in Lynchburg and Houston held jobs with First and Merchant’s National Bank and Steptoe and Patterson Real Estate Company before joining Horner & Barksdale and Company in 1966. Later to be known as Scott and Stringfellow, Houston became a vice president and remained with the firm until his retirement in 2003.  He held membership in The Bond Club of Virginia, served on its board, and led its activities as president in 1984.

Linda worked at Babcock & Wilcox, Nuclear Facility Plant in the IT department for four years, followed by a brief time at Lynchburg Foundry.  With the birth of a son, Trey (Houston Crowder, III), she became a stay-at-home mom; daughter Lara joined the family in 1969.  The Crowders’ children developed an interest in swimming and tennis, activities that Linda and Houston eagerly supported.  Both parents gave many volunteer hours to the Lynchburg Aquatic League, with Houston serving as its president.  Today, Trey and wife Barbara live in Forest, Virginia, and Lara and husband Dave Green reside in Richmond. As they did for their children, Houston and Linda spend many hours cheering their three grandsons and one granddaughter in their athletic pursuits and other interests.

In the early 1970s, Linda, in order to fulfill a life long dream, enrolled in a nursing program offered by Lynchburg College, in collaboration with Virginia Baptist Hospital School of Nursing.  After earning a R. N. degree in the mid-seventies, she first worked at the hospital on the Medical Surgery, Cardiac, and Oncology floors and eventually joined the VBH Home Health department assuming R.N. responsibilities.  In 1998, Linda left VBH   to start a new Parish Nurse program at the Crowder’s church, Quaker Memorial Presbyterian Church. 

Both Houston and Linda have been long-time, active members of their church, assisting in many capacities--both as elders and on Session.  Over the course of several years, Houston served as a member of personnel, budget and finance, and fellowship committees.  He also initiated, and continues to be involved with, the Endowment Fund Committee.  

Linda has been a member of the Fellowship Committee and Care and Nurture Committee where she now serves as chairman. The Parish Nurse position offered a comfortable transition from hospital nursing to being a 4th time grandmother in 2005.

The Crowders have many interests, which include playing golf, tennis, sailing, reading, and travel. They have stories to tell about trips in the United States and Europe, as well as bareboat sailing in the Caribbean.  Houston is known for his skills in making sourdough bread and Linda excels in the area of blueberry walnut muffins.