Anita M. Lynch

to Heaven on Sunday, June 2, 2024. Anita was born on December 13,1931 to Kenneth and

Kathaleen (Hickman) Montague in Fresno, CA. On May 20, 1936, her sister Madelyn Marie

was born, and a lifelong friendship between the sisters began. When Anita was a young

girl, she and her family moved to Visalia, where Anita spent most of her life. She graduated

from Visalia Union High School in 1949 and went on to attend College of the Sequoias. Like

her mother Kathaleen, Anita had a heart for early childhood education, and after graduating

from San Jose State University, she became a kindergarten teacher. While attending the

Visalia First Baptist Church, Anita met a handsome young man by the name of Don Lynch.

Don and Anita were married on March 29, 1958, at the old Visalia First Baptist Church on

Garden Street. After honeymooning in Santa Cruz and Monterey, they set up their first

home in Fresno while Don finished school at CSU Fresno, and after Don’s graduation they

moved back to Visalia. They welcomed their first child, Kristin (Kris), in January 1961,

followed by son Craig in September 1963. When Kris was born, Anita left her teaching job

and became a devoted full-time mom. When Kris and Craig attended Crestwood

Elementary School, Anita was the room-mother for both of her children for every school

year, making sure that every holiday and event was celebrated with cookies or cupcakes or

other such treats. During her kid’s growing up years, Anita spent countless hours

chau􀆯euring Kris and Craig (and often their friends as well) to hobby shops for model cars

and airplanes, piano lessons, and riding lessons, and spent many hours over the years at

piano recitals and choir performances. No matter what the occasion, Anita, along with

Don, were in attendance and never, ever missed a performance or event. When Kris was in

the choir and ensemble at Mt. Whitney High School, Anita and Don were rewarded for their

participation by winning the fund-raiser ra􀆯le grand prize – a one-week, all-expenses-paid

trip to Hawaii!

After Kris and Craig moved out of the house, Anita returned to her love of early childhood

education by joining the sta􀆯 at the First Baptist Church Day Care, where she brought not

only her love of children but also her training and experience as a kindergarten teacher.

She was well-loved by her co-workers as well as by the children and their parents. She also

taught the 4-year-old Sunday School class for 30+ years.

Anita and Don loved being at the beach, and after many years of family vacations spent in

Santa Cruz, the two of them loved spending time in Pismo Beach, where they enjoyed

watching the sunset, walking on the beach and going to their favorite fish-and-chips

restaurant.

Anita was preceded in death by her husband Don, who passed away in February 2011. She

is survived by her daughter Kris Daugherty and her husband Curt, her son Craig and his wife

Stacy, her sister Madelyn Howell, nephew Steve Howell and his wife Amanda, sister-in-law

Mary Lou Lynch, niece Jill (Lynch) Scott and her husband Jason, and nephew Daren Lynch

and his wife Rosemary.

We would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to Park Visalia Assisted Living and the Ruth

Woods Open Arms Hospice House for the amazing care they provided to Anita during her

last few years.

In lieu of flowers, a donation can be made in Anita’s name to the Gateway Church Pre-

School, the Ruth Woods Open Arms Hospice House (in Visalia), or the recipient of your

choice.