Linda Sue Stanbrough

is honored with a Brick from the city of Wichita and co-workers of Linda Stanbrough.

On January 13, 1948, Linda Sue Wolf was welcomed to the world by her parents, Daisy (Dee) and F. O. (Ted) Wolf at Wichita Hospital. At the age of four, Linda entered Mt. Carmel Academy. She graduated from Wichita North High School in May, 1965. The next September saw her leave home for higher education on the campus of McPherson College. Instead of a degree, she found a husband. Linda married John Chance and moved to DeKalb, Illinois. She entered Northern Illinois University to study English in pursuit of a teaching degree, but dropped out when her first born arrived. Kimberly Sue Chance was born on October 16, 1966. The following June they moved to Wichita, where Linda still resides.

Linda worked for the Fourth National Bank for a short time. Linda's public service began October 24, 1968, when she went to work for C. Henry Nathan at the City of Wichita as a typist-clerk and serving as receptionist in the old City Building on South Main. She was soon promoted to Secretary and moved into the City of Wichita's Public Information and Mayor's Office. In addition to secretarial duties, she served as hostess for the City Commission's and Mayor's guests, was one of the staff assigned to the Sister Cities Board and the Wichita Fine Arts Council, and did regular radio announcements of street closings.

During this time, Linda continued her education, attending both Friends University and Wichita State University. She transferred to Century II in the fall of 1972 to help Mr. Nathan open the City's Community Arts Office.

Linda's youngest daughter, Shelly Janine (Chance) Love, was born January 13, 1973, on Linda's 25th birthday. Linda worked with many arts agencies in Wichita, assisted Mr. Nathan with the hanging of art shows in the Concert Hall foyers and gave tours of Century II to many school and community groups as well as to convention attendees and other visitors to our city. Linda and John were divorced in 1978.

In 1980, Linda transferred to City Hall's Contracts Administration working with federal and state funds. She married Robert (Bob) Stanbrough on May 30, 1981. In 1985, Linda was promoted to the position of accountant in the Human Services Department, Planning and Administration Division where her work helped provide assistance to low-income and homeless people in our community. She retired from the City of Wichita on December 3, 1997.

Linda's community service began at her church in her preteen years when she worked in the nursery and taught Sunday School. Linda and her first husband served as sponsors of the Church of the Brethren Youth Fellowship. Through the years, Linda served in areas such as the Fellowship and Finance Committees and as a member of the Board of the First Church of the Brethren. She chaired the Board for a one-year term.

Linda was a Girl Scout Leader for several years, and she and Bob volunteered many hours for young girls and women at the Two Rivers Youth Club, a softball complex. Linda and Bob continue to actively support women's athletics, especially softball at Wichita State University and Kansas Newman College. Linda and Bob co-directed Lakers Football, a division of Greater Wichita Junior Football, for approximately 15 years. They gave hundreds of hours of their time to this program each year from July through October. Linda and her husband still found time to support activities at Christian Challenge School where their youngest daughter was a student. Linda is a member of the Kansas Organization for Victim's Assistance and gives many hours of service to the Wichita Chapter of Parents of Murdered Children.

Linda has been a working wife, mother and a valuable volunteer to this community. Her daughters are proud of her and the contributions she has made while shaping them into promising young women. This brick is presented by her friends and co-workers on the occasion of her retirement from the City of Wichita. She has retired from employment, but not from public service. Linda plans to travel, hopes to have lots of grandchildren, and plans to continue her current volunteer work, pursuing new opportunities at the YWCA Women's Crisis Center and Inter-Faith Ministries.

Submitted by Susan Leiker

July 7, 1998