Don was born in Calgary October 21, 1920 the only and cherished son of Margaret (nee Adams) and John Lynch who long predeceased him. He grew up in Calgary, graduating from St. Maryís Boys High School. He joined the RCNVR in 1939 and the RCN in 1940. Following basic training as a telegrapher in Victoria, he was posted first to Prince Rupert, BC. Don and Phyllis were married June 10, 1942 while Don was on leave. He served on HMCS Bayfield and on HMCS Athabaskan; when the Athabaskan was sunk, he was one of 42 survivors rescued by HMCS Haida. After a 3 month recovery in hospital in England, he spent the last months of the war with Phyllis in Prince Rupert. They returned to Calgary and Don began his 31 year career with AGT where he was valued always as a hard worker and respected as a fair manager. Don and Phyllis lived in Lethbridge from 1966 to 1973 then returned to Calgary where Don retired in 1976. That same year he realized a lifelong dream to have a place in the country, when he and Phyllis purchased a quarter section of land near Kevisville with Phyllisí sisters and their husbands Cele and Bert White and Olive and Roy Bates. Together the six of them built a lodge using logs they felled on the property. Here he was able to garden, roam the woods, watch birds and give David the time of his life. In Olds, Don became very active on the board of Horizon School and in the (then) Mountain View Association for the Mentally Handicapped. Don excelled at everything he turned his hand to. He was an avid fisherman all his life, a bird hunter in earlier years. He was a meticulous craftsman and carpenter and a handyman beyond compare. He was a voracious reader, was in his element in a heated debate, loved to tell stories of his adventures with his fishing buddies, enjoyed music and cut a fine figure on the dance floor. Along with Phyllis he was devoted to his son David, now 39 years old. He and Dave could be seen at the Olds Arena whenever the Grizzlys were on the ice, in the Didsbury Pool on Monday afternoons and bent over a jigsaw puzzle when Dave was home. He was loved by many and respected by all who met him. He will be missed. Heartfelt thanks are extended by Donís family to Dr. Clarence Graff; to all the very caring nursing staff at the Olds Hospital, the Olds Community Health Care Centre and We Care Home Health Services out of Red Deer; to those who created Palliative Care Rm 206 at Olds Hospital; to Father Les Drewicki, St. Stephenís Catholic Church, Olds and to Lorne Wooden, Mountain View Funeral Chapels, Olds. Funeral services will be held on Thursday, June 6, 2002 at 11:00 am in St. Stephenís Catholic Church with Father Les Drewicki celebrant. Cremation. In lieu of flowers, memorial tributes may be made directly to the Accredited Supports to the Community, 4332 - 50 Ave., Olds, AB., T4H 1P6. Mountain View Funeral Chapels, Olds entrusted with arrangements. 403-556-3223. |