Linda Baumann
Linda Jane Baumann passed away January 8 in Santa Barbara. Her energy and embrace of life led her to become a musician, green thumb, golfer, genealogist, volunteer, accountant, wife, and mother.
Linda was born in Leadville, Colorado on March 9, 1938, to Morley and Maxine (Herber) Brandborg. She graduated from Rio Blanco County High School and received a degree in music education from the University of Colorado Boulder, where she was a Regent’s Scholar and affiliated with Zeta Tau Alpha sorority. She married Eugene Baumann in 1960. They had two children, Susan and Greg, and settled in Cupertino, California, living there until 1979 when they moved to Santa Barbara.
Linda worked as a music teacher, educational consultant, and homemaker. She continued her own education in accounting at UC Santa Barbara and was able to meld her profession with her love of plants by working as the bookkeeper for the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden. Upon retirement, Linda volunteered at the Garden, spent more time working on her golf game, and renewed her life as a musician, playing string bass in the Prime Time Band in Santa Barbara. Her ability to hold down a rhythm section resulted in an invitation to join the Dixie Daddies, a Dixieland band. She became the first woman to hold a permanent seat with the band, which changed its name to the Dixie Daddies and Mommas. She switched to the electric bass guitar when hauling around an instrument taller than she was became difficult. Linda also devoted herself to genealogy, tracing back both branches of her family and helping others discover their own histories.
Linda is survived by her daughter Susan Hendrickson (Bill) and son Greg Baumann (Heidi Wells), as well as three grandchildren, Samuel, Michael, and Lindsay Hendrickson. She is also survived by her brother Donald Brandborg (Nikkie), brother-in-law Cyril Baumann (Jean), and sisters-in-law Erna Koloski and Loretta Hedman, as well as many nieces and nephews. Linda was preceded in death by her husband, Gene, and brother Robert Brandborg, and by her parents Morley and Maxine.
A celebration of life will be held in Santa Barbara in the spring. Anyone wishing to make a donation in Linda’s memory is welcome to donate to the Prime Time Band, P.O. Box 92055, Santa Barbara, CA 93190-2055.