Kyle Samuel VanLandingham

Kyle Samuel VanLandingham 1951-2009

Virginia W. Westergard and Kyle S. VanLandingham, Parker And Blount In Florida, 1983

Samuel Pierre VanLandingham Jr., 91, died Aug. 7, 2005, at Stanley House in DeFuniak Springs. He was born in Miami and was a former resident of Fort Pierce. He operated Round Hammock Ranch on family owned land in St. Lucie County. He wrote the books "Memories" and "The Vanishing Scene." He was president of the St. Lucie County Cattlemen's Association and a deacon at First Presbyterian Church, Fort Pierce. He graduated from Fort Pierce High School in 1933. Survivors include his wife, Ernestine Alderman VanLandingham; and sons, Kyle VanLandingham of Denver and Larue VanLandingham of Westville. SERVICES: Visitation and a service was Aug. 9 at Hickory Hill Baptist Church, Monticello, with The Rev. Chris Nelson officiating. Burial was in Hickory Hill Cemetery. Arrangements were by Jerry Evans Funeral Home, DeFuniak Springs. Published in the TC Palm on 8/10/2005

Kyle VanLandingham, ca. 2001

Obituary

Published in TBO.com on December 10, 2009

VANLANDINGHAM, Kyle Samuel, 57, who was a historian and genealogist, died November 17, 2009, in a Denver hospital from the H1N1 virus, also known as swine flu. He is survived by his mother, Jane Ernestine Alderman VanLandingham; and brother, Larue Pierre VanLandingham and wife, Denise, of DeFuniak Springs, Fla. He was preceded in death by his father, Samuel Pierre VanLandingham. Mr. VanLandingham was born December 10, 1951, in Fort Pierce, Fla., where he graduated from Dan McCarty High School. He subsequently received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Maryville College in Maryville, Tenn., and a Juris Doctor degree from the Cumberland School of Law at Samford University in Birmingham. After receiving his law degree, Mr. VanLandingham opened a law office in Okeechobee, Fla., and shortly thereafter was appointed county attorney for Okeechobee County in 1978. He held that office for just short of 10 years, at which time he came into a family inheritance. Resigning his position as county attorney, he embarked on what would be his true vocation, researching and writing about genealogy and Florida history. He also indulged his love of travel, visiting 26 countries. When traveling in the United States, he was always on the lookout for the best local barbecue. His favorite was Eastern North Carolina BBQ. After leaving Okeechobee, Mr. VanLandingham lived in Savannah, Riverview, Fla., Kerrville, Texas, and Denver, Colo. While in Riverview, he was active in the Tampa Historical Society, serving as president for one year, as editor of their publication, Sunland Tribune, for seven years, and contributing numerous articles. During this time, he authored the book, In Pursuit of Justice: Law & Lawyers in Hillsborough County 1846- 1996. His other books include Florida Cousins: The Descendants of William H. Willingham, Parker and Blount in Florida, A History of Okeechobee County, Pioneer Families of the Kissimmee River Valley and Pictorial History of Saint Lucie County 1565-1910.

Mr. VanLandingham also served as the president of the St. Lucie County Historical Society for one year and as a director of the Florida Historical Society for three years.

Mr VanLandingham was a Mason and served as the Worshipful Master of Okeechobee Lodge No. 237 Free & Accepted Masons in 1985. Kyle, who took great pride in being a sixth-generation Floridian, will be missed by his family and all his historical and genealogical collaborators, for whom he was an endless source of valuable and accurate information.