Earline Ruth Hingst Lindig

1925-2012

Born on June 21, 1925, to Robert Hingst and Meta Wild Hingst on the Hingst family farm in Lindenau, Texas, Earline Ruth Hingst Lindig passed through death into eternal life on Sunday, July 29.

As the only daughter in a family of four children, she grew up doing farm labor as well as most of the household chores. Her parents wanted her to be in the same class as her older brother so Earline skipped first grade. In spite of this, she excelled both academically and in athletics, especially volleyball.

She graduated from Orange Grove High School in May 1941, shortly before her 16th birthday.

Earline attempted to get work in San Antonio, but could only get very menial, low-paying jobs because she was not yet 18. Instead, she returned to the farm in Orange Grove and helped the family with their chicken business for two years. She then returned to San Antonio and quickly found work.

For seven years, Earline worked at a series of jobs, using her bookkeeping and secretarial skills and changing jobs as advancement and pay increase warranted. During this time she shared an apartment with other young women who were also working in San Antonio - some of whom remained close life-long friends.

Since it was the '40s, many single young women were working there, and Grace Lutheran Church began a young women's league. Earline became very involved in this group. It was here she met Emily Lindig, who introduced Earline to her brother, Werner, Earline's future husband.

Earline married Werner Max Lindig on June 4, 1950, one year before he was to graduate from Texas A&M University. During that year, Earline worked in the registrar's office at Texas A&M.

After Werner completed his college studies, the couple moved to Sweetwater briefly for his in-training with the Texas Agricultural Extension Service. Before settling in Bandera, they resided in San Angelo and Van Horn. Werner and Earline were married for 61 years before Werner passed through death into eternal life on July 9, 2011.

Earline continued using her secretarial and bookkeeping skills in work at two of Bandera's banks, and as secretary for the principal of the Bandera High School and in the administrative office for many years.

She remained very active in her church, serving Grace Lutheran Church of Bandera, at various times as secretary, as well as on the Church Council as treasurer and on Noah's Ark Council. She also enjoyed the fellowship in the women's group as they worked for years on crafts to earn money for the church's building fund.

Earline is survived by her four daughters, Kathy Lindig Hunt, Janna Ivey Lindig, Dianne Lindig Lovett, and Maxine Lindig Lautenberg; sons-in-law, Craig S. Hunt, Peter Lovett and Joel Lautenberg; grandchildren Kevin Hunt, Kassandra Hunt, Kaitlyn Hunt, Alyson Ivey Whalen, Clayton Ivey, Willow Lautenberg, Max Lautenberg and Maya Lautenberg; two great-grandchildren, Trevor Hunt and Karson Hunt; and 24 beloved nieces and nephews.

The family requests that any memorial contributions be made to the Grace Lutheran Church Lindig Memorial Building Fund; the Bandera Junior Livestock Show, referencing the "Werner Max Lindig Memorial Scholarship"; St. Jude's Children's Hospital; or the Texas 4000 Ride for the Cure.

A service will be held at 2 pm, Tuesday, August 7, at Grace Lutheran Church.

For additional information, please check with Grimes Funeral Chapels of Bandera at 830-796-3922, or www.grimesfuneralchapels.com.