In Memory

Kyle Vanlandingham VIEW PROFILE

Kyle Vanlandingham

FORT PIERCE — Prominent Florida historian and former Okeechobee County Attorney Kyle Van Landingham died Tuesday from the swine flu virus, also known as the H1N1 virus, in Colorado. He was a sixth-generation Floridian, native of Fort Pierce, and a member of an influential Treasure Coast family.

His death was confirmed by a cousin, Mary Beth Pickney of Fort Pierce. “He was in the hospital about a week. He had high blood pressure and pancreatitis and I guess the swine flu was too much for him,” she said.

Van Landingham was the author of four books on regional history, one of which, “A Pictorial History of St. Lucie County,” recently was reprinted by the St. Lucie Historical Society and is on sale locally.

“That is a shame,” said Brad Culverhouse, St. Lucie Historical Society president. “He was my cousin and a wonderful historian. He was a good lawyer but his passion was Florida history. He was a fountain of knowledge on that subject.”

Born in Fort Pierce, Van Landingham graduated from Dan McCarty High School, received a bachelor’s degree from Maryville College in Tennessee, and a law degree from Cumberland School of Law at Samford University in Birmingham, Ala.

He served as Okeechobee County Attorney for about 10 years, ending in 1987, and moved to Colorado three years later.

In a 1985 interview with the Miami Herald, Van Landingham credited his love of history to his grandparents and two St. Lucie County school teachers, Olive Dame Petersen, a past president of the Florida Historical Society, and Ada Cotes Williams. He wrote a book on his family’s genealogy at age 15.

In addition to the “Pictorial History of St. Lucie County,” he wrote “Pioneer Families of the Kissimmee River” with Alma Hetherington, “Florida Cousins” and “The Descendants of William H. Willingham.”

He was a member of the board of directors of the Florida Historical Society for several years, and was a life member of the St. Lucie Historical Society.

Funeral arrangements are incomplete at this time.



 
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11/18/09 09:12 PM #1    

Cheryl Denmark (Rowe)

So sorry to hear of Kyle's passing. He was a great person and really loved Ft. Pierce. He will be missed by the, "Old Ft. Pierce People" there are not too many of them left . My prayers go out to his remaining family members.
Sincerely,

Cheryl Denmark Rowe

07/26/16 01:39 AM #2    

Mike Thomas

Kyle always smiled. That's what I remember about him. He would always try to engage me in a discussion of the molecular structure of a synthesized plutonium nuclei . . .and I, being a nice guy, tried to indicate to Kyle that I was giving him my utmost attention, even though in reality I was watching all of you beautiful girls walking by. I think Kyle knew of my ruse!

He is incredibly happy now! Read "My Time In Heaven" by Richard Sigmund . . . .then rejoice. 


03/21/20 01:14 AM #3    

Elinda Hunter

So sorry for our loss. I remember Kyle best from elementary school days. Even then he was an avid lover of all things in the social studies area. I am proud to have known him. He did our class proud on his journey through life.


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