Oscar C. Lindemann's Obituary
LINDEMANN, OSCAR CURTIS age 89 died Monday evening, August 15, 2011 at Presbyterian Village in his sleep after a six year battle with Parkinson’s disease and its complications. He was born July 19, 1922 in Bartlett (Bell County), Texas to Edwin E. and Thecla Schawe Lindemann, a fourth generation native Texan. He graduated from Bartlett High School after which he enrolled in Texas Lutheran College in Seguin, Texas. It was at Texas Lutheran where he met his future wife, Martha Menn of Yorktown (Dewitt County), Texas. After Texas Lutheran, which was then a junior college, he enrolled at the University of Texas at Austin in the College of Business Administration until volunteering in the U.S. Navy Officer Training Program at Northwestern University and Harvard. He was commissioned in the U. S. Naval Service in 1944. He was assigned to anti-submarine duty in the Atlantic, North Sea, Caribbean and the Gulf of Mexico. Upon discharge from the Navy, he returned to the University of Texas to complete his degrees: BBA in Accounting and MBA in Finance. Upon graduating, he was offered a teaching position at The University of Texas where he taught business subjects for four years. In 1951, he accepted a position with Texas Bank and Trust Company in Dallas, where he remained until retirement in 1977. While at Texas Bank, he was elected to the presidency of the Texas Bankers Association and was an original member of the Board of Directors of Bank America Card Corp, which was the forerunner of the present day VISA. In addition, he organized a group to buy controlling interest in Texas Bank and Trust from W. W. Overton family and operated the bank until it was merged with the First City Bank of Houston. During his banking career, he served on multiple boards and committees, such as several terms as President of the Dallas Clearing House Association, Greater Dallas Council of Churches, the American Red Cross and State Fair Musicals. He was also a member of the City Club and numerous charitable organizations. Oscar was a life-long Lutheran, having been a very active member of St. Martin’s Lutheran in Austin and Christ Lutheran in Dallas. He was a Sunday School teacher for many years, Council President, and the Chairman of the Investment Committee of the National Church Pension Fund. Being a devoted, life-long Texan, Oscar had a great interest in all things Texan. This would include the history of the state, it’s artists, authors and culture. He was also particularly proud of the fact that all three of the couple’s children graduated from the University of Texas at Austin. The family was very sports minded, both individually and as a group: they played golf, tennis and hunted nationwide. The family participated in numerous sporting activities at Northwood Club, Riverhill in Kerrville, Preston Trails and Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs. Oscar is survived by his wife, Martha, and their three married children: Richard and wife Susan Lindemann of Dallas, Merrianne and Ron Houdyshell of Austin and Carol Beth (Bobbi) and Fred White of Dallas. Grandchildren of the Lindemanns include: Richard Jr. and Sarah Jane Lindemann, Justin and Carey White, Margaret Anne Houdyshell Gonzalez, her husband Carlos, and Angela Houdyshell, and Ali Houdyshell Thompson, her husband David, and great-granddaughters Leah Claire and Keira Anne Thompson. Mr. Lindemann is predeceased by his parents and two younger brothers, Marcus and Charles E. Lindemann, both of Bartlett, Texas. Survivors include family members mentioned above and numerous cousins, nieces, nephews and friends. Donations may be made to the Christ Lutheran Building Fund, the Salesmanship Club of Dallas or the Texas Voice Project for those suffering with Parkinson’s. A visitation will be held at Restland Funeral Home from 6:00 PM until 8:00 PM on Thursday August 18th (13005Greenville Ave.). A memorial service will be held at Christ Lutheran Church, 3001 Lovers Lane, Dallas, at 3:00 PM on Friday, August 19th. A celebration at the home of Fred and Bobbi White, 6409 Norway Rd, Dallas will follow the church services.
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