Brent Vincent Tyndall

February 17, 1935 – June 13, 2017

After a lifetime of commitment to family and community service, and defying the odds for many years, Brent Vincent Tyndall died peacefully on June 13, 2017.  He was 82.  A lifelong resident of Springfield, Missouri, Vincent was born to loving parents Wilma Rachel Long Tyndall and Isaac Alexander Tyndall on February 17, 1935.  With his brother Terry, he was nurtured in a home marked by creative freedom, intellectual curiosity and generous hospitality.  During his school years at Campbell Elementary, Jarrett Junior High and Senior High (Class of 1953), Vincent developed a love for the nooks and crannies of the North Side, and readily made friendships that continued into adulthood.  A Sigma Nu at the University of Missouri, Vinnie continued to cultivate lifelong relationships. He graduated from the Missouri School of Law in 1960.

Following law school, Vince taught Business Law at Mizzou, then returned to Springfield in 1963 to establish a general law practice with Clark Kelly.  In 1967, he became the first trust officer at Citizens (now Commerce) Bank, where he spearheaded the new trust department.  He joined the law firm of Miller, Fairman, Sanford, Carr & Lowther in 1972, where his practice centered on trusts and estate planning.  He was a past president of the Springfield Metropolitan Bar Association and the Greene County Estate Planning Council.  A Fellow of The American College of Trust and Estate Counsel, he was also a frequent presenter at continuing legal education seminars around the state.  He was a pioneer in the field of right-to-die legislation, and deeply involved with the Cox Medical Center Bio-Ethics Committee.  Vince retired from the firm in 1995 as its senior partner.

Vincent made a lasting contribution to his hometown by serving in leadership positions for many civic organizations, including Lester E. Cox Speech & Hearing Center, Ozarks Public Television, Dogwood Trails Girl Scout Council, Springfield Public Schools Foundation, Springfield Regional Opera, Springfield Little Theater, Greene County Historical Society, Kiwanis, and St. James Episcopal Church.  Two organizations were especially dear to his heart: he was co-founder of the Community Foundation of the Ozarks, and instrumental in the development of the Wilson's Creek National Battlefield Foundation.

The seeds planted in his loving childhood home found their full flowering in his 60-year marriage to Connie, his beloved college sweetheart.  Married at Christ Episcopal Church on August 23, 1957, they built a life of love and mutual support that was the foundation of his many accomplishments and deep friendships.  Together they instilled in their three daughters the legacy of creativity, intellectual curiosity and hospitality.  His many hobbies and projects were a testament to his creative energy and voracious curiosity about How Things Work.  From his workshop he customized the house by building bunk beds and walls of bookcases.  Their home was the site of countless music, trivia, and game nights, where everyone was welcome.  He possessed the rare ability to envision something that did not exist and the unparalleled drive to bring it to fruition.  A man of quiet faith, self-giving and always willing to invest in others, Vinnie shared himself—with passion, kindness and gentle humor.  No topic was safe from his inquiring mind; no person too lofty or too humble to receive his caring attention.

With a blessed disposition and the loving support of family and friends, Vinnie embraced retirement with his characteristic cheek and passion, even as his health declined.  A true Renaissance man, he was well-read on a variety of subjects and continued to pursue his wide-ranging interests, which included history and music of all kinds, ham radio, electronics and technology, writing and photography.  He reveled in the travels, adventures and accomplishments of his daughters, three sons-in-law, and seven grandchildren.

Vinnie was grateful for the support of countless health care providers over the years, most recently Access Hospice, The Manor at Elfindale, and the ever-patient Dr. John D. Bentley.

Devoted son, brother, husband, father, and Daddydee, Vincent is survived by his wife Constance (née Flanigan); his daughters Catherine Terry Tyndall Boyd (David Allen Boyd), Elizabeth Rachel Tyndall Baucum (Tory Kyle Baucum), and Jennifer Stratton Tyndall Wickham (Jonathan William Wickham); his beloved grandchildren Clare Constance Boyd, Marc Isaac Boyd, Isabelle Rose Baucum, Amelia Tyne Baucum, Bridget Flanigan Baucum, Patrick Tyndall Wickham and Ian Davison Wickham.  He is also survived by his faithful big brother and original partner-in-crime, Terry Martin Tyndall, as well as many cousins, nieces, and nephews.

The funeral will be held at 10 am on August 23, 2017, at Christ Episcopal Church, Springfield, where Vinnie and Connie began their married life together 60 years ago to the day.  Visitation will be held the day before on August 22, 2017, from 5 to 7 pm, at St. John's Episcopal Church, Springfield.  In lieu of flowers, tax-deductible donations may be made to the Constance and Vincent Tyndall Donor Advised Fund at the Community Foundation of the Ozarks, P.O. Box 8960, Springfield, MO 65801, or at http://cfozarks.org . Arrangements will be made under the direction of Gorman-Scharpf. Please share your memories at Vincent Tyndalls guestbook