James Stratton Lynch

James S. Lynch (Jim), a loving husband and father, both grand and great, passed from this earth on March 19th, 2021. He was born to Raymond and Betty Lynch in Austin, Texas, on January 4, 1942, the first of four children. Soon after his birth, his father left to serve in World War II with the Texas National Guard. When Jim was four years old, his father returned and moved the family to Midland, Texas, where Jim spent the remainder of his childhood.

After attending Midland public schools, Jim entered St. Stephen’s Episcopal School as a sophomore in 1957, where he played football, continued his passion for playing classical piano, began his study of Christian theology, and met his lifelong best friend. After graduation he attended and graduated from the University of Texas. He then attended Virginia Theological Seminary (Episcopal) for one year, after which he completed additional graduate work at the University of Texas. During this time he got married and was soon blessed with sons Jim and Terry.

Jim started his career with the Emergency Medical Services Division of the Texas State Department of Health where he was involved in creating ambulance based emergency response systems in Texas towns, a service that did not exist outside of the military until then. While in this position, Jim, now divorced, met Mary Ann who would become his wife of forty-nine years. He eventually left the Health Department to attend Trinity University in San Antonio to earn an M.S. in Hospital Administration. He and Mary Ann then moved to Temple, Texas, where he completed a one-year administrative residency at Scott and White Hospital. He spent five years as an assistant administrator there, during which time he and Mary Ann became the parents of Christina and Benjamin.

In 1981 the family moved to Waverly, Iowa to be closer to Mary Ann’s side of the family. Jim was employed as the hospital administrator of Waverly’s only hospital for five years. During this time, he converted to Catholicism and was confirmed in 1985. Feeling called to work in a career that more directly helped people in need, Jim moved the family to El Paso, Texas in 1987. There, Jim and Mary Ann did a year of full-time volunteer service for the Diocese of El Paso, teaching English as a second language to adult members of Sagrado Corazon Parish. After that, they were hired by the diocese to teach at a parochial school.

Two years later, Jim began teaching English as a second language (ESL) to recent immigrants in a public middle school in Canutillo, a community near El Paso consisting mostly of recent immigrants from Central America. While in this position he earned a M.Ed. in Bilingual Education from the University of Texas at El Paso. In 1993 the family moved back to Austin, and both Mary Ann and Jim taught in area public schools until their joint retirement in 2003. During retirement Jim enjoyed playing the piano, reading theology and philosophy, spending time with family and friends, and being a devoted full-time grandfather.

Jim is fondly remembered by countless students whose lives he impacted duing his years of teaching. As a kind and generous man with a genuine interest in connecting with people, he made an impact on friends, family, and numerous other individuals who came into his life. Jim’s life-long pursuit of truth led him to Christianity and a conversion and total devotion to Catholocism. It also imparted a selflessness in regards to his famiy who received so much of his care and attention, especially during his retirement years. By example, he taught those around him to put God and family first and to value all life.

Jim is preceded in death by his parents. He is survived by his wife Mary Ann; son Jim Lynch and his wife Stephanie Lynch, son Terry Lynch, daughter Christina Morel and her husband Robert Morel, and son Ben Lynch; grandchildren, Cecilia Lynch and her fiancée Julian Machuca, Marie-Helene Morel, Zoe Lynch, Robert Morel Jr., Joseph Morel, and Caroline Morel; great-granddaughter Delaney Machuca-Morel; and siblings Ray Lynch, Joe Lynch, and Nancy Lynch.

Funeral services will be on Friday April 16th, 2021 at 10:00 a.m. at St. Albert the Great Catholic Church in Austin. A virtual Memorial Service will occur in May. In lieu of flowers please consider a donation to Jim’s favorite non-profit radio station, KMFA 89.5 (Austin Classical Radio).