James Lynch

James Lynch

James (Jim) Niels Lynch, of Cathlamet, died October 9 at hospice.

He was born November 25, 1922 in Manila, Philippine Island. He was the son of Army Captain Harry and Ellen Marie (Futtrup) Lynch. He served in the Army Signal Corps during World War II.

When he was 18 he took his motorized dugout canoe from the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic Ocean and back to the Pacific Ocean. He bragged that he took the smallest motor ship through the Panama Canal.

After graduating from Oregon State College he married Audry Louise Odegaard in Lakeview, Ore. They lived in the Seattle area while he worked at the Boeing Company in the Aero Space Division. After retiring they moved to Cathlamet and joined the Coast Guard Auxiliary and Wahkiakum Search and Rescue.

He is survived by his wife Audry. a daughter Teresa Louise (Ronald) Bernards, three sons Donald James (Ann) Lynch, John Henry (Chrissy) Lynch, Paul Joseph Lynch and son-in-law Steven Paul Kness, 20 grandchildren, six great grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by a daughter Karen Marie (Steven) Kness, a grandson, two sisters and two brothers.

A Funeral Mass will be held October 18, 10 a.m.. at St. Catherine Catholic Church in Cathlamet. Internment will take place at Ilwaco Cemetery. Memorial donations are suggested to the Cathlamet Fire Department EMS.