Wilford Arthur Lynch

Mr. Wilford "Wil" Arthur Lynch, 71, of Cape Charles, Virginia, passed away at home with his loving family by his side on June 8, 2012. Born in Yonkers, New York, on October 6, 1940, he was the son of the late Edward S. and Ruth C. Lynch. Mr. Lynch grew up in Bronxville, New York, where he met and then married Dale Carlyle Leech in 1960. Together, they lived in many places including: Ridgefield, Connecticut; Houston, Texas; Columbus, Ohio; Great Falls, Virginia; and London, England. In 2000, they chose the Eastern Shore of Virginia for their final destination after vacationing here since the late 1950s. Mr. Lynch received his Bachelors of Science degree from Hobart College in Geneva, New York, in 1962. He then completed graduate school at Virginia Commonwealth University in 1967. Mr. Lynch had a 35 year career in Information Technology, a highlight of which was being named IBM-er of the Year in 1979, an international honor. Later, he had an eight-year career in Real Estate with Coldwell Banker Harbor Realty. He opened the Cape Charles office as managing broker in 2004, and served in several positions on the Eastern Shore Association of Realtors Board, retiring from Real Estate in 2010. Mr. Lynch pursued many interests outside of his work and family and was active in the communities in which he resided. He was a founder of , and volunteer for the Clear Lake Emergency Medical Corps in Houston, Texas. In Columbus, Ohio, he served on the boards of several charitable organizations. He was a member of the York Lodge Masonic Temple in Columbus where he served as Chaplain for four years. At the time of his death, he was a member of the Capeville, Virginia Masonic Lodge. He was a past member of Exmore Rotary International and the Eastern Shore Yacht and Country Club. Mr. Lynch had a broad range of interests that started in his youth. He spent summers during his childhood in the Catskill Mountains in New York where he developed a passion for nature, water and animal life. It is there where he learned to identify trees, birds, constellations and became an expert boatman and fly-fisherman. He had a mechanical bent from a young age, when he would take apart and rebuild clocks. He loved cars, engines and trains his whole life. At the age of five, he learned to play the accordion and began a 13-year study of piano. In his 30s he took guitar lessonsan instrument that he continued to play for most of his adult life, entertaining friends on many occasions with music and song. He sang in a cappella groups and choruses for many years. One of the foundational elements of Mr. Lynch's life was his relationship with his wife of nearly 52 years, Dale. They met at the age of four playing in the neighborhood, began dating at age 16 and never looked back. They were the center of each other's universes. Together "Wil and Dale" raised a family, built careers and embarked on many adventures close to home and across the globe. He was adored by his children and grandchildren and he adored them in return. He was delighted to take them canoeing and swimming in the Chesapeake Bay, waterskiing, fishing and sailing. He was blessed to develop close and loving relationships with his son-in-law and daughter-in-law. Mr. Lynch was well-known for his warm smile and friendly handshake, as well as for his integrity, honesty and kindness. Up to the end of his life, everyone who met him walked away feeling they had made a genuine friend. He was a gentleman and a gentle man. Mr. Lynch was preceded in death by his parents, sister Diana Ellen Lynch, and grandson Ian Christopher Stewart Lynch. Mr. Lynch is survived by his beloved wife, Dale, son Christopher Wilford Lynch and daughter Jennifer Carlyle Lynch-Weitzel and their respective spouses, Megan Overholt Lynch and Derek Alan Weitzel, and his wonderful grandchildren Christian Emory Oliver Lynch, Reid Carlyle Weitzel and Olivia Ellen Weitzel. Mr. Lynch is also survived by his brother Edward S. Lynch, Jr. and his wife Margaret, sister Lorelei Lynch Miller and six nieces and nephews, and their spouses and children. In addition, Mr. Lynch leaves behind many loved ones, including Maryon and Stewart Womble of Cheriton, Virginia, Marshall and Patty Timm of Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, Sallie and Frank James of Nassawadox, Virginia and their children, Debbie and Tommy VanLandingham of Montross, Virginia, Nancy and John Mohr of Unionville, Pennsylvania and their children, Richard Murphy of Prompton, Pennsylvania and his son, and Barbara Morison and Richard Bell of Richmond, Virginia, Tallulah and William Lyons of Smyrna, Georgia, and Nancy Hack of Leawood, Kansas, several God children and many dear friends near and far. A private celebration of Mr. Lynch's life will be held at the convenience of the family. In keeping with his love of science and his fellow man, Mr. Lynch has donated his remains to a neuro-science research study between the National Institutes of Health and the University of Indiana. Arrangements were made by the Doughty Funeral Home, Exmore, Virginia. Condolences may be sent to the Doughty Funeral Home online to www.doughtyfuneralhome.com or to his home P. O. Box 183, Cape Charles, Virginia 23310. In memory of Mr. Lynch, the family requests donations be made in his name to Hospice of the Eastern Shore of Virginia, 165 Market Street, Suite #3, Onancock, Virginia 23417, or to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, 10 Center Drive, MSC 1440, Bethesda, Maryland 20892-1440, Attn: Eric M. Wasserman, M.D. It was possible for Mr. Lynch to be cared for at home through the warm and caring hands of all his caregivers and physicians. His family will be forever grateful.