Woodward County Obituary
Elmwood Cemetery

© Billings Funeral Home
WOODWARD, WOODWARD CO, OK
(permission granted)
Submitted by: Ann Weber

RAY LYNCH

30 Oct 1940 - 15 Feb 2015

Visitation: 8:00 AM - 8:00 PM Thursday, February 19th, 2015 Billings Funeral Home

Funeral: 10:00 AM Friday, February 20th, 2015 First United Methodist Church of Woodward

Interment: Friday, February 20th, 2015 Elmwood Cemetery

Ray Lynch, 74 year old Woodward resident, went to be with his Lord and Savior on Sunday February 15, 2015 while at home. Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. Friday, February 20, 2015 in the First United Methodist Church with the Reverend Shannon Davis and Pastor Dick Young officiating. Interment will follow in the Elmwood Cemetery with Billings Funeral Home in charge of the arrangements.

Charles Ray Lynch was born on October 30, 1940 to Harry James Lynch and Ida May Cromwell Lynch in Woodward, Oklahoma where Ray attended school and graduated with the class of 1958 from Woodward High School. Ray continue his education at Northwestern Oklahoma State University and Oklahoma State University. While in High School Ray began working at the Terry Theatre. Ray, also, worked for Northup Jewelry a few years, before beginning a career with Southwestern Bell Telephone Company. Ray was with SW Bell from 1964-1984. In 1984, Ray, began his own company, Woodward Tel-Com. He owned and operated this company from 1984-2002.

Ray met and married Helen Diane McMindes in Eldorado, Oklahoma on August 27, 1960. His only son, Charles Rowland Lynch was born on August 14, 1961. In 1962, after college, Ray and Helen made their home in Woodward, where Ray began giving back to his community through service at The First United Methodist Church in the following positions: as Chairman of the Trustees for 14 years, the Finance Board, on the Administration Board, and as a Methodist Men President. Ray continued to support the Woodward community by serving as Vice-President of the Plains Indian and Pioneer Museum Board, as President of the Woodward Alumni Association, President of Northwest Domestic Crisis Board, as Chairman of the Red Cross, on the Board of the Regional Red Cross, on the Woodward Theater Restoration Board, the Meals on Wheels Board, the Woodward Elks Rodeo Committee, he served in many positions at the Woodward Elks Lodge, was a 32 degree Mason of the Woodward Masonic Lodge, was a member of: the Woodward Chamber of Commerce, the Northwest Cowboy Club, the Shriners, the Woodward Industrial Foundation, the Woodward Boomer Boosters, the Quarterback Club and the Telephone Pioneers. Ray was also a proud supporter of Oklahoma State University through the following: as a lifetime member of the O.S.U. Alumni Association, the Posse Club, the O.S.U. College of Business Association, and O.S.U. Foundation.

Ray’s greatest joys were his son, twin granddaughters, and five great grandchildren, whom he loved to spend time with whenever possible. He also loved working at the church, spending time visiting with friends at United and anything to do with O.S.U..

Ray is survived by his wife, Helen, of the home; one son, Charles Rowland Lynch and wife Vicki of Woodward; one sister-in-law, Martha Young and her husband, Dick of San Bernardino, CA; two grandchildren; Cyndi Giacomo and husband Chad of Woodward; Lyndi Stamback and husband Robert of Kathleen, GA; five great grandchildren; Shelby Lynne Stamback, Brett Alan Stamback, and Zachary Ryan Stamback of Kathleen, GA; and Emilly Renee’ Giacomo, and Matthew Troy Giacomo of Woodward; three nephews; Trent Lynch and wife Barb and children Audrey, Kayla, and Austin of Mesa, Arizona; Michael Lynch and wife Glecy and children Shelby, Brandon and Brycen of Gilbert, Arizona; David Young and wife Lyn and children Tess and David Michael of Nancy, Kentucky; one niece; Diane Lawson and husband Jeffrey of San Bernardino, CA and many friends.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Woodward First United Methodist Church with the funeral home accepting the donations.