Her first husband was Edward Russell Thomas. She divorced him, saying he had been sexually abusive toward her.
As her second husband, she married Cole Porter, being aware of his sexual orientation. He promised to be discreet, not to embarrass her. He kept his promise for several years and then he didn't.
They were married on December 12, 1919 in the 18th Arrondissement in Paris, France.
Appeared in newspapers Friday, May 21, 1954:
Linda Belle Lee Porter, wife of song writer Cole Porter died after an ilness of several years. She is survived by her husband, a sister, Mrs. William Wallace of Nantucket, Massachusetts and half sister, Mrs. Lee Abbell of Covington, KY.
Funeral services will be at 2:00 pm, Saturday, in St. Batholomen's Chapel, Park Ave. and 51st Street . Burial will be noon Sunday in Peru, Ind., home of Mr. Porter.
Linda's best friend was Ellin MacKay Berlin, wife of Irving Berlin. Ellin held Linda in such high esteem she named her third child in honor of Linda: Linda Louise Berlin.
Linda wanted to be buried elsewhere, since many years before her death their marriage had deteriorated, but since Cole Porter outlived her, he acted against her wishes in her Last Will and Testament and placed her in his family's plot in Indiana.
Her first husband was Edward Russell Thomas. She divorced him, saying he had been sexually abusive toward her.
As her second husband, she married Cole Porter, being aware of his sexual orientation. He promised to be discreet, not to embarrass her. He kept his promise for several years and then he didn't.
They were married on December 12, 1919 in the 18th Arrondissement in Paris, France.
Appeared in newspapers Friday, May 21, 1954:
Linda Belle Lee Porter, wife of song writer Cole Porter died after an ilness of several years. She is survived by her husband, a sister, Mrs. William Wallace of Nantucket, Massachusetts and half sister, Mrs. Lee Abbell of Covington, KY.
Funeral services will be at 2:00 pm, Saturday, in St. Batholomen's Chapel, Park Ave. and 51st Street . Burial will be noon Sunday in Peru, Ind., home of Mr. Porter.
Linda's best friend was Ellin MacKay Berlin, wife of Irving Berlin. Ellin held Linda in such high esteem she named her third child in honor of Linda: Linda Louise Berlin.
Linda wanted to be buried elsewhere, since many years before her death their marriage had deteriorated, but since Cole Porter outlived her, he acted against her wishes in her Last Will and Testament and placed her in his family's plot in Indiana.