John Franklin “Jack” Lynch, Jr., died on Tuesday, November 16, 2010.
A celebration of his life will be held on Friday, November 19, 2010 at 11 am at First Presbyterian Church in Wilmington. The family will receive friends immediately after the service in Gilmore Hall.
Jack was born in Erwin, NC, on March 22, 1919, to the late Mary Lucy Dupree Lynch and John Franklin Lynch, Sr. He attended the Erwin public schools and received his bachelor’s degree at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1940. He was editor of the 1940 Yackety-Yack, (the UNC yearbook), as well as being a member of two of the University’s top honor groups, the Order of the Golden Fleece, and the Order of the Grail. He was a member of the Alpha Tau Omega fraternity.
Jack received his certificate of medicine from UNC-CH in 1942, before attending the Jefferson Medical School at the University of Pennsylvania. He was a member of the Phi Chi fraternity. Dr. Lynch spent a year internship in Atlantic City, NJ, before joining the Navy in 1944. During WWII, Jack was a medical officer aboard the Destroyer USS Hudson, and saw service in the Iwo Jima and Okinawa campaigns. He was awarded the Bronze Star for boarding an aircraft carrier, which had suffered heavy damage from kamikaze planes, to care for the wounded. After the war, Jack completed his pediatric residency at St. Louis Children’s Hospital and Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.
In 1948, Dr. Lynch moved to High Point, NC and began his career in pediatrics at the High Point Infant and Child Clinic, where he practiced for 36 years. Jack was involved in many medical and civic activities throughout his life. He was on the staff at High Point Memorial Hospital where he served as Chief of Pediatrics (1960-1964) and Chief of Staff (1968). He was a Trustee of the Hospital from 1973-1979. From 1959 until his retirement, Dr. Lynch was a Clinical Associate Professor of Pediatrics at UNC. Jack would travel to Chapel Hill to see patients, and teach to students and residents in the Pediatric Clinics.
Dr. Lynch was the Guilford County Medical Society President in 1964. He was the NC Pediatric Society President in 1966. He served as NC State Chairman of the American Academy of Pediatrics (1961-68). He was Chairman of the NC Medical Care Commission from 1980-1993. Jack was the UNC Medical Alumni Association President for 1965-66. He was one of the UNC “Tar Heel One Hundred” from 1974-1980. Jack was a member of the Diplomate American Board of Pediatrics, the NC Medical Society, and the American Medical Association. He was a member of the NC Society of the Cincinnati.
In High Point, Jack served on the Rotary Club Board of Directors, as well as Director of the High Point Chamber of Commerce. He was a long standing member of the First Presbyterian Church and served as both Deacon and Elder. He served as Budget Chairman of the United Community Services of High Point (1963-64) and President in 1965. Jack led the “KO Polio” campaign to provide the oral polio vaccine in Guilford and 10 surrounding counties in 1964. He was named as “High Pointer of the Week” by the local newspaper in 1964. He was selected by the High Point Civitan Club as the city’s “Citizen of the Year” 1963-64. He received the Distinguished Service Award from the UNC School of Medicine (1969). He served as a Director of the String & Splinter Club and the Southern Furniture Club. He was a Director of Central Savings Bank from 1969-1994. Jack and his wife, Betty, established the London-Lynch Learning Center at the North Carolina Children’s Hospital in Chapel Hill.
Jack was a champion of the health concerns of children throughout his professional career. His personal commitment to his church, his community, his colleagues, friends and family mirrored his values of faith, integrity, honesty, generosity, and conviction. He will be remembered especially for his vibrant and engaging approach to life, his caring attitude toward others, and his humble reluctance to be credited for his many accomplishments.
Jack was preceded in death by his wife, Elizabeth Simmons “Betty” Lynch. He is survived by his four children: John Franklin Lynch, III, and wife, Annette, of Winston-Salem; Logan Lynch Haigh and husband, Marsden, of Charlotte, Thomas Simmons Lynch and Faith Egan of Wilmington, NC, and Sallie Lynch Price and husband, Carter of Wilmington, NC. In addition, he leaves behind seven grandchildren: Caroline Lynch Clark, John Franklin Lynch, IV, Elizabeth Simmons Haigh, Marsden Devereux Haigh, Jr., Elizabeth Haigh Swain, James Carter Price, Jr., and William Lynch Price. In addition, Jack is survived by his two brothers, Dr. William Rippy Lynch and Dr. Joseph Alvin Lynch.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the UNC School of Medicine, London-Lynch Learning Center, Dept. of Pediatrics, CB#7220, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7220, or the charity of your choice.
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Wilmington Burial and Cremation Service, 1535 S 41st Street, Wilmington, NC 28403 910.791.9099
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