Cornelius F. ‘Neil’ Lynch Jr., 96, Western Electric Worker

Cornelius F. “Neil” Lynch Jr., 96, died Thursday, Nov. 6,  at the Wingate Nursing Home in Haverhill, surrounded by his loving family, after an extended illness. He was the beloved husband of the late Alice “Pat” (Brown) Lynch who died in 2004.

Born in Haverhill on August 17, 1918, he was the son of the late Cornelius F. Lynch and Alice V. (Fitzgerald) Lynch. He was a graduate of St. James High School class of 1936 and resided in Haverhill most of his life. A U.S. Army veteran of World War II, he served in the Rhineland and Central Europe campaigns before being honorably discharged in March 1946.

Lynch was employed as a production analyst for Western Electric and later Lucent Technologies in North Andover for 30 years before retiring in 1981. He was a communicant of St. James Parish and was a member of the Knights of Columbus Council #10877 of North Andover, Lorraine Post No. 29, V.F.W. and the William Comeau Post #4, American Legion. He was also a member of the Amesbury Golf and Country Club, the Crescent Yacht Club in Bradford and the 71st Infantry Association.

Lynch was an avid reader and was particularly interested in books about World War II. He enjoyed playing golf and loved traveling with his wife and daughter to his annual Army reunions and other interesting destinations in the United States and abroad. He was a great family man and loved spending summer vacations with his wife, children and grandchildren on Lake Winnipesaukee in Wolfeboro. He was truly a member of the “greatest generation” and he will be sadly missed by his family and many dear friends.

He is survived by his daughter, Mary A. Lynch of Arlington, Texas; two sons, Michael A. Lynch and his wife, Judith (Ray) of Haverhill and Kevin J. Lynch and his companion, Susan McCraith of Clinton, New York; five grandchildren, Patrick M. Lynch of Raleigh, N.C., Ryan C. Lynch of Clinton, N.Y., Tara R. Lynch of Lowell, Donovan D. Lynch of Salt Lake City, Utah, and Garrett M. Lynch of South Boston; one great-granddaughter, Abigail Lynch of Raleigh, N.C. and many nieces and nephews. He was also predeceased by his siblings, Rev. John J. Lynch, S.J., Gerald J. Lynch, Sister M. Ellenita, S.S.J., Agnes M. Lynch, Anna M. Lynch and Margaret Donovan.

His funeral Mass will be celebrated on Thursday in St. James Church, Winter St., Haverhill at 11 a.m. Visiting hours will be held on Wednesday in the Linnehan-Grondin Funeral Home, 129 Kenoza Avenue, Haverhill from 4 to 8 p.m. Relatives and friends are cordially invited to attend. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in his memory to Brookhaven Hospice, 6 Beech St., Framingham, MA 01702. Interment with military honors will be held in Elmwood Cemetery, Bradford.