Obituary of William Dean Lynch

William Dean Lynch, CPA, loving husband and beloved father of four children, passed away on Saturday, November 21, 2020, surrounded by family at the age of 79, at his home in Murfreesboro, TN. William (Bill) was born on February 20, 1941 in Gilmer County, WV, to Ralph Hayes Lynch and Vesta Rose (Garrett) Lynch. He was the second of three children. He grew up in Ravenna, OH, where he met the love of his life, Marguerite (Peggy) Knapp. Bill and Peggy were married on June 17, 1961 at Fort Gordon, GA, during his 5-year enlistment with the U.S. Army as a Communications Instructor. They returned to Ravenna to start a family where they raised two sons, Michael and Christopher, and two daughters, Kelly and Sandra. Bill was a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and retired as a Deputy Auditor for the Auditor of the State of Ohio, after 20 years of service. Prior to that he owned and operated Reliable Printing and Office Supply in downtown Ravenna and was an Assistant Vice President at the Second National Bank of Ravenna where he managed the brand new Data Processing Center. Bill was active in his Ravenna community. He worked with the Boy Scouts, and was on the Executive Board of the Portage County Animal Protective League. He was a past President of the Cuyahoga Valley Chapter of the National Association of Accountants and recognized as one of the best dressed men in Portage County. Following retirement, Bill and Peggy relocated to Murfreesboro, TN, the Volunteer State. Bill’s love of history and his enthusiasm for telling stories led him to the perfect place to share his knowledge of the Civil War, he became a volunteer at the Stones River National Battlefield. His voluntary dedication exceeded 5,000 hours at the battlefield enhancing the educational experience of millions of visitors. He served as an interpreter of the history of the Civil War battle that took place there by reenacting the life of a typical soldier of the time, telling stories while dressing the part. He was so convincing and authentic as a historian, many children believed he came from that time. Bill was known for his kind and compassionate spirit. He had a strong work ethic and dedicated his life to his family. Always eager to debate any topic and fiercely loyal to his country. Bill was a source of strength when times were hard and dedicated his life to the service of others. He had great compassion for all of God’s creatures. He was often seen in his Murfreesboro neighborhood walking with his beloved dog, Teddy Bear, who passed away hours later to join Bill in Heaven. Bill was preceded in death by his father, Ralph, his mother, Vesta Rose, and brother, Richard. He is survived by his sister, Carolyn, his wife, Peggy, his four children, Michael Patrick Lynch (Gail), Kelly Susan Jaminet Claxton (Michael), Christopher John Lynch (Rose) and Sandra Kay Hurley (Brian). Also three grandchildren; Emma, Aidan and Greyson. There will be a (Double Funeral) Mass of Christian Burial on Wednesday, March 6th at 2:00 pm at Saint Rose of Lima Catholic Church, 1601 North Tennessee, Murfreesboro, TN 37130. There will be a Military Funeral Honors on Thursday, March 7th at 1:00 pm at the Middle Tennessee State Veterans Cemetery, 7931 McCrory Lane, Nashville, TN 37221. In lieu of flowers please consider making a donation to the American Diabetes Association at diabetes.org in honor of both Bill and Peggy Lynch. “It is foolish and wrong to mourn these men who have died. Rather, we should thank God that such men lived.” General George S. Patton