Linda Darlene Whitley

Linda Darlene (VanHouten) Whitley, 65, of Belton passed away on Wednesday, January 16, 2020 at Baylor Scott & White Hospital in Temple after a brave battle with cancer.

A funeral service for Mrs. Whitley will be held on Wednesday, January 22, 2020 at 10:30 AM at the Dossman Funeral Home chapel in Belton with Rev. John Roark officiating. Burial will follow at Cedar Valley Cemetery near Salado.

Linda was born on September 14, 1954 near Odessa, Texas to W.C. and Darlene (Auld) VanHouten. She was raised in the Odessa area and graduated from Odessa High School. She attended Texas A&M University and received her bachelor's degree in education in 1976. Mrs. Whitley married Sam Whitley on May 22, 1976 at Keys Valley Baptist Church in Belton and they were married for almost 44 years before she passed away. Linda was a longtime educator with Killeen ISD working as a teacher and later as a campus tech for special needs students, retiring in 2009. She was also a longtime member of Keys Valley Baptist Church in Belton.

Survivors include her husband Sam Whitley of Belton, mother Darlene Hale of Odessa, sons Michael Whitley and Joseph Whitley both of Nolanville, brothers Donald VanHouten of Pampa, Texas, David VanHouten of Georgia, and Jeffrey Stewart of Odessa, sisters Deanna Goodman of Southlake, and Dayna Stewart of Phoenix, Arizona, step brother Wayne Trantham of Ft. Worth, as well as five grandchildren.

A visitation will be held on Tuesday evening from 5:30 to 7:30 PM at Dossman Funeral Home in Belton.