Linda Ruth Pavelka

Linda Ruth Pavelka

November 11, 1937 - March 28, 2025

Linda was born in Corsicana Texas to Bud and Thelma (Arnold) West.

She grew up in the Britton and Midlothian area. During her school years, she excelled in piano, basketball and was competitive in barrel racing in the rodeo.

Linda was co-owner and operator of Lakeview Bait House (now Tradinghouse Bar and Grill) with her late husband Tony. She drove buses for Hallsburg schools for several years. She started as a dispatcher for the city of Lacy Lakeview and moved up to court clerk. Linda worked for the city until her retirement in 2006. She was a founding member and officer of the CenTex Crappie Association, member of the Ladies Auxiliary of the VFW in Mart and member and President of the Municipal Court Clerks Association of Central Texas.

Linda was a lifelong avid reader and crossword puzzle solver. She loved old country and western music, especially Patsy Cline, Ray Price and George Strait. She loved Gospel music and her favorite was the Gaithers. In her retirement years the TV was almost always tuned to old westerns, unless a Dallas Cowboy game was on.

She was preceded in death by husband Tony Pavelka; parents Bud and Thelma West; baby sister Martha Jane West; son-in-law Jimmy Holle; daughter Elaine Karnis, and grandson Jeff Beck.

Linda is survived by her children, Vicki Koen and husband Albie “Bud” of Hallsburg, Rick Ward and wife Diana of Throckmorton, Cindy Ward Halbach and husband Jason of Waco, Tonette Holle Stem and husband Wiley of Waco, and Linda Peterson and husband Pete of Waco; eleven grandchildren and twenty great grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, memorials for Linda would be greatly appreciated by the Hallsburg Volunteer Fire Department.