Remembering Thomas Lynch
Ya'at'ééh, my name is Teresa Montoya. I'm fundraising for my cheii/grandfather Thomas Lynch, whom our family lovingly called Papa. At dawn on July 27th our sweet Papa passed on to join the holy people. He was 98 years old.
In these moments of mourning and joyful reflection on his remarkable life, I am often at loss for words. To translate a lifetime of love, stories, and memories here feels incomplete. There aren’t enough words here to convey the memorable impact of his generosity, sincerity, and humor. Whenever I am back home, I regularly meet people who tell me how they know my grandfather, even from a brief encounter years prior. Perhaps it is because he held at once a unique sort of toughness and grit, alongside a genuine kindness and positive outlook on life that might not be expected of someone who has endured such hardship. He lived life always in gratitude to his family and taught me, especially in his later years as his caretaker, the transcendent power of unconditional love. I am proud to have been raised by Papa and to live in honor of his teachings and his memory.
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Thomas Lynch was born on March 26, 1923 in Wide Ruins, AZ. He was Ashįįhi, born for Kinłichíí’nii.
He attended Sanders High School before being drafted into the army in 1943. As a member of the 42nd Infantry Division he fought in the European theater. He was captured in the Battle of the Bulge and endured harsh conditions of starvation at a POW camp in Germany before his liberation in April 1945. He was honorably discharged at the rank of corporal with four medals: Good Conduct Medal, World War II Victory Medal, American Campaign Medal, and European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with two Bronze Stars. Following his service he returned home to Sanders and completed his senior year of high school.
As a revered storyteller, he shared many memories of his war experiences as well as his upbringing in the rangelands of the Puerco Valley where his grandmother Mary Yellowhorse owned more than 3000 head of sheep. He recalls her generosity in butchering a sheep every day to keep the family fed. When relatives would visit, she would send them off with a leg of mutton wrapped in a flour sack. He too was incredibly generous with his stories, his time, his labor, and his resources. Living most of his adult life in Window Rock, AZ he became well known in the community for his employment with the Bureau of Indian Affairs, where he was honored for his 35 years of service, his membership on the Window Rock school district board, and his service as post commander for his local VFW post #6789 to honor and support other Native veterans. He was one of the original members of the VFW post when it was established in Window Rock in 1945. In this and many other ways, his life was lived in service of those around him: his family, his community, and his comrades. This spirit of service extended well beyond his retirement where he continued to participate and organize Navajo veteran affairs as well as getting certified to be a real estate appraisal consultant to help families resolve complex land issues. Because of these far-reaching activities he was known and loved by many across the region.
Beyond these achievements, he was a devoted husband of 69 years to Helen Lynch, father to two daughters Veronica Montoya and Karen Lynch, and grandfather to Teresa Montoya. He is survived by siblings John Lynch, Maryeona Watman, and Grace Monarco. He joins his siblings Robert (Bobby) Lynch, Edward (Ed) Lynch, Freddy Lynch, Patrick (Pat) Lynch, Steve Lynch, and William (Bill) Lynch in the afterlife.
Please consider donating to our family’s fundraising campaign for funeral services to be held on August 4, 2021 at the Fort Defiance Veterans Cemetery. Any funds raised exceeding the funeral expenses will be donated in his name to the Tséhootsooi Twin Warrior Society Veterans Administration and his former VFW post #6789.
More details will be forthcoming. Ahé’héé/thank you all so much for your love, support, and care during this difficult time.
