Obituary for John Paul Lynch, Sr.
John Paul Lynch, Sr., 70, passed away on Saturday, January 23 at Berkeley Medical Center after a lengthy illness. He was born March 7, 1950 in Fairmont, WV, son of the late John E. Lynch and Lorena Steele Lynch.
He is survived by his loving wife of 50 years, Rosemary Moore Lynch; his brother George Allen Lynch and wife, Carol; his three sons, J.P. Jr. and wife, Dawn; Eric Scott and wife, Kristin; and Ryan Patrick and wife, Stephanie. He is also survived by seven grandchildren- Madison, Anna. Sofia, Emma, Juliana, Aidan, and Teagan, and two nieces, Sabrina Lynch and Rachel Ramage.
He was a graduate of East Fairmont High School and Fairmont State College. For eight years, he was the Director of Bands at Sistersville High School in Sistersville, WV before coming to Martinsburg High School as the Director of Bands. He taught at MHS for 24 years before his retirement in 2005. Since that time, he has taught music to the children in the Eastern Panhandle at Shepherdstown Middle School, Harpers Ferry Middle School, Martinsburg South Middle School and Jefferson High School. And they all referred to him affectionately as “Papa Lynch”.
Over the years his bands have received numerous awards and Superior ratings. He also served as music adjudicator in the Tri-state area. Lynch, himself, was inducted into the West Virginia Music Educators Hall of Fame, the Shepherd University Friends of Music Hall of Fame, The Martinsburg High School Academic Hall of Fame, and The West Virginia Marching Band Hall of Fame. He was named West Virginia’s Bandmaster of the year three times, was named Outstanding Music Educator by the National Federation of Interscholastic Music Association, Fairmont University Outstanding Music Alumnus, and was selected as one of The 50 Directors Across the Nation Who Make A Difference.
He is past president of the West Virginia Bandmasters, Phi Beta Mu National Band Directors Fraternity, Region IX Bandmasters Association and served as Chairman of the WV All-State Band, and the WV Region IX Eastern Regional Jazz and Concert Festivals. In his spare time, he was Vice President of RS Tours and Travel student tour company. He was a member of St. Leo Catholic Church in Inwood and the Knights of Columbus.
Services and interment are private. A memorial Mass and Celebration of Life Service will be held at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the American Diabetes Association or the American Cancer Society.
Arrangements by Brown Funeral Home
He is survived by his loving wife of 50 years, Rosemary Moore Lynch; his brother George Allen Lynch and wife, Carol; his three sons, J.P. Jr. and wife, Dawn; Eric Scott and wife, Kristin; and Ryan Patrick and wife, Stephanie. He is also survived by seven grandchildren- Madison, Anna. Sofia, Emma, Juliana, Aidan, and Teagan, and two nieces, Sabrina Lynch and Rachel Ramage.
He was a graduate of East Fairmont High School and Fairmont State College. For eight years, he was the Director of Bands at Sistersville High School in Sistersville, WV before coming to Martinsburg High School as the Director of Bands. He taught at MHS for 24 years before his retirement in 2005. Since that time, he has taught music to the children in the Eastern Panhandle at Shepherdstown Middle School, Harpers Ferry Middle School, Martinsburg South Middle School and Jefferson High School. And they all referred to him affectionately as “Papa Lynch”.
Over the years his bands have received numerous awards and Superior ratings. He also served as music adjudicator in the Tri-state area. Lynch, himself, was inducted into the West Virginia Music Educators Hall of Fame, the Shepherd University Friends of Music Hall of Fame, The Martinsburg High School Academic Hall of Fame, and The West Virginia Marching Band Hall of Fame. He was named West Virginia’s Bandmaster of the year three times, was named Outstanding Music Educator by the National Federation of Interscholastic Music Association, Fairmont University Outstanding Music Alumnus, and was selected as one of The 50 Directors Across the Nation Who Make A Difference.
He is past president of the West Virginia Bandmasters, Phi Beta Mu National Band Directors Fraternity, Region IX Bandmasters Association and served as Chairman of the WV All-State Band, and the WV Region IX Eastern Regional Jazz and Concert Festivals. In his spare time, he was Vice President of RS Tours and Travel student tour company. He was a member of St. Leo Catholic Church in Inwood and the Knights of Columbus.
Services and interment are private. A memorial Mass and Celebration of Life Service will be held at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the American Diabetes Association or the American Cancer Society.
Arrangements by Brown Funeral Home