Joyce Laurel Lynch

FEBRUARY 18, 1926 – MARCH 19, 2016

Joyce Laurel Lynch was born on February 18, 1926 in San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas and departed this life on March 19, 2016. She was preceded in death by her parents, Peter Zurek and Willie (Hatch) Zurek; her sister, Frances Zurek; and her husband, Col. George Richard Lynch. Joyce was very proud of her Texas heritage since her ancestors were among the first settlers of Texas and fought in the Battle for Texas Independence. Through the lineage of her Hatch ancestors, she was related to Degory Priest who was a pilgrim on the Mayflower in 1620. Her Coker ancestors established the Coker Settlement here in Bexar County in the 1800's, and her grandfather, James Collins Hatch, was a Texas historian and writer of Texas lore.

Joyce was a 1943 graduate of Burbank High School where she enjoyed being in the Burbank marching band and was a drum majorette. She was Valedictorian of her Class of 1943 and later attended San Antonio College where she studied creative writing. She worked as a computer analyst for Kelly Air Force Base in the early days of computers (when they were as large as refrigerators and filled entire rooms) and she flew all over the country as a trouble-shooter to solve computer problems, using a manual that she wrote herself. Even at ninety years of age, she was proficient at using the latest computer and cell phone technology. As a very talented writer, she enjoyed writing articles for the Army Times, and also worked in Army recruiting for some time. She was a beautiful woman and also modeled for the Ben Shaw Modeling Agency during the 1950's to earn extra money.

As an Army wife and mother she traveled all over the United States and Europe and led a very full life. She had a quick-witted, wonderful sense of humor and her favorite pastime was reading for hours at a time, right up until the end of her life.

She is survived by her six children, Lana Farley; Larry Lynch (Karen); Jan Patterson (Joel); Bonnie Lynch (John); Rick Lynch (Patti); and Darrell Lynch (Christina). She is also survived by 13 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren. A burial service is scheduled for 9:45 a.m. on April 1, 2016 at the Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery, Harry Wurzbach Road, San Antonio, Texas. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Jude's Children's Hospital, www.stjude.org, which was Joyce's favorite charity. You are invited to sign the Guestbook at www.porterloring.com