John William Lynd's Obituary
John Lynd, a faithful servant of the Lord Jesus Christ, was called home to be with his Savior on August 2, 2019. His life here on earth was a reflection of his close relationship with his friend Jesus.
John was born to Francise Lee and Benjamin Harrison Lynd on November 27, 1924 in the coal mining town of Ironton, Ohio. Jack, as he was known to his family, was the middle son between his older brother Benjamin and younger brother James. Growing up with two brothers during the Great Depression was rough and tumble and economically difficult. In 1941 he was selected for the All-Ohio High School Football Team. This later led to him playing for the Ironton Tanks, a semi-professional club that later became the Detroit Lions.
World War II found him enlisted in the United States Navy where he proudly served in the Asiatic-Pacific Theater. He served as bombardier on a PBY plane in the Aleutian Islands. After the war he returned to Ohio where he married his high school sweetheart Ruth Watts. To them was born one son, John William Lynd, Jr.
During his adult life Jack held a number of significant positions. The family moved to Anaheim, California where he became a "Top Ten" salesman with the Victor Adding Machine Company. Though successful, he was drawn by the need to help boys in trouble. He became a director at the Boy's Industrial School in Lancaster, Ohio. This institution housed 1,200 adjudicated delinquent boys. He received his undergraduate degree from the University of Mid-Florida and his doctorate from Freedom University. He also received conferred Doctor of Divinity and Doctor of Human Relations degrees. The discipline of football, wartime service, salesmanship, employment of many years working with delinquent boys equates to the Edgewood Children's Ranch program. But, Dr. Lynd says, "only Jesus Christ made it work." He began his ministry in Groveland, Florida, in 1965 and moved it to Orlando, Florida, in 1967. Dissatisfied with the success rate of state institutions in general, he followed his brothers to Florida. He had a plan in his head that he wanted to put into practice. Quoting Jack, "Without the vision of Juvenile Judge Arthur Yergey and the call of God upon Tom Wenig and the program of Jack Lynd, the Edgewood Children's Ranch would never have had it's genesis in 1966." According to Bill Fredrick, former mayor of Orlando, "Edgewood Children's Ranch has a wonderful story to tell. Without a single dollar of taxpayer money, you have accepted troubled children, placed them in a caring, situational environment and
involved their families in a program to help these young people get their lives back on a productive track. You are a tremendous asset to Orlando and a model for communities across the country." Jack's plan became his life's work, a work that put Christ first in all of its programs. He retired as the founding director of the Edgewood Children's Ranch. Soon after retiring his beloved Ruth, wife of 50 years, passed away. In 1998 he fell in love again and married Martha Kelly. He often joked that he had the best of both worlds, a brunette and a blond. In retirement he enjoyed golf, traveling, his family, and church. His greatest passion to the very end was spreading the Good News of Jesus Christ.
John William Lynd, Sr. is survived by:
His wife: Martha of Tavares, FL
Son and daughter-in-law: John William Lynd, Jr. and Sandra of Apopka, FL
Grandchildren: Rebecca and Mark Skipper of Orlando, FL
Susan and Jamie Park of Longwood, FL
John William Lynd, III of Orlando, FL
Greatgrandchildren: Megan Skipper, Lucas and Bethany Park
Step Children: Tim and Nancy Kelly of Manassas, VA
Rick and Ester Kelly of Richmond, VA
Kathleen and Don Lyons of San Antonio, TX
Step Grandchildren: Naomi and Joshua Britton
Mariah and Trenton Lyons
Step Greatgrandchildren: Luke and Juda Britton
What’s your fondest memory of John?
What’s a lesson you learned from John?
Share a story where John's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with John you’ll never forget.
How did John make you smile?