Richard C. Lynch

Richard Charles Lynch of Hondo, Texas passed away peacefully with family by his side on September 11, 2023. He was 95 years old.

Richard was born in Hondo, Texas on May 12, 1928, the only child of James (Jim) and Aleen Britsch Lynch. He was raised and attended school in Hondo and participated in many activities, most notably playing baseball for the Hondo Owls and the Highway 90 League. Richard was offered a scholarship to play baseball at Southwestern University in Georgetown, Texas and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Physical Education. During these formative years, he met Frances Westfall, also from Hondo, and they were married on August 2, 1950. They remained married for 72 years until Frances passed away earlier this year. From this marriage they were blessed with four children: Terri, Jeff, Lisa, and David.

During the Korean War, Richard was drafted into and served faithfully in the United States Army, was initially trained as a rifleman, and served time in Japan. At some point during his enlistment, he was identified as officer material and was sent to Officer Candidate School. Richard was later commissioned as a Second Lieutenant and served in various medical units. Among these were as a Battalion Aid Station Administrative officer, Orthopedic Administrative officer, and as an Aviation Physiologist with the United States Air Force.

Richard was honorably discharged after four years and entered the world of education. He placed a high value on education and began to pursue many different avenues on his way to achieving a Master’s Degree in Education. Not content with these already notable achievements, Richard continued his aspiration to achieve a PhD. Even though his goal was never fully attained, he did complete all of the academic requirements, lacking only the final dissertation. He once said that life and family happened, and he just ran out of time. Work life for Richard began to center around teaching, which included Sunday school, numerous schools in the Hondo and San Antonio area, Southwest Texas Junior College in Uvalde, U.S. Army and other government agencies. His career expanded to include president of Elko Community College in Elko, Nevada, administrative positions at the Denver Community College, all of which culminated in being the first counselor at Hondo High School in 1973. Interestingly enough, he created, designed, and presented the counselor job description to the school board for approval, which resulted in his being hired for the job. Most of his teaching positions also involved coaching. He coached football, baseball, basketball, tennis, and swimming at the high school or college level.

As if that wasn’t enough, he also coached numerous Little League baseball teams, on which his two sons participated. After the coaching years ended, Richard was a loyal spectator and supporter of all his grandchildren as they participated in a variety of athletic endeavors. He rarely missed a D’hanis sporting event if one of his grandchildren was involved. After retiring from teaching and education in general, Richard embarked on a second career by joining his dad, Jim Lynch and son, David, in an already established concrete business. They formed LynchCo Inc. and he worked for 20 more years. Richard had an insatiable affection for his ranch, his peach trees, deer hunting, and his cows. All of these interests were lovingly and patiently passed along to his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. He took enormous pride in his orchard and his attempts to grow a variety of fruits and vegetables. The irrigation system alone that he designed himself was an engineering marvel because he insisted on using only minimal parts, scrap pieces of whatever was laying around, which included an upside-down cement wheelbarrow, and all at practically no cost. The casual observer would often just stare at it and wonder how it all worked. But it did!

Richard was preceded in death by his parents James (Jim) and Aleen Britsch Lynch, and his wife Frances.

He is survived by his four children Terri (Larry) Stewart, Jeff (Paula) Lynch, Lisa (Kenny) Rothe, and David (Mishell) Lynch, 14 grandchildren, 20 great-grandchildren, nephew: Glenn Klaus, and niece: Frances Ann Bendele.

Even though Richard was a quiet man, he was very in touch with current events and took pride in keeping up with politics. He was not afraid to speak his mind when he had something to say, and was willing to take a stand for something he felt was important. He loved his country and he loved God. But most of all, Richard Charles Lynch loved his family, was very proud of all their accomplishments, and would do whatever it took to further their lives in a positive way.

If desired, memorials may be made to the St. Paul Lutheran Church Endowment Fund, P.O. Box 58, Hondo, TX 78861.

A visitation will be held on Saturday, September 23, 2023, at St. Paul Lutheran Church at 2:00 p.m., followed by a funeral service at 2:30 p.m., and interment at Hondo Cemetery.

Services are under the direction of Hondo Funeral Home.