Born Thursday, October 21, 1943 at 11:14 am, in Burlington, North Carolina.
Death, Friday, February 5, 2021 at 6:23 am, at Testa Hospice Family House.
Baptized into the Christian Faith November 24, 1957.
Parents, Woodrow W. Lynch, I and Dorothy Greene Lynch, both deceased.
A beautiful day in Burlington limitations lurked. “Big Woody” (Daddy) was working and knew
Dot was in labor and awaiting the call about the birth. He warned his associates, that when the
call came, please no one get in his way as he was leaving or be ready to be punched out.
Needless to say, a co-worker had a face realignment that morning.
What Woody loved most was family, friends and the Marine Corp, especially his airline family.
Airline associates abound. They had a love that has a category of its own. When anyone needed
help, he was there for them. He would ask immediate family, “is there anything you need?”
When my three children were small, he would run them down, pick them up upside down, hold
them over a flushing toilet and pretend he was going to flush them away. Question is, yes, he
spoiled them. As they grew older, he found out they could get him. Being that he was a
practical joker, my oldest son Travis is the most like him.
Work ethics! June 11, 2020 was Woody’s last day at the airport. Still working under Voluntary
Leave of Absence, he had 33 years, 3 weeks and one day of perfect attendance. He took great
pride in his job.
A dedicated worker for the airlines, his career started after his discharge as a sergeant from the Marine Corp, 52 years ago. The anniversary of his discharge was on the date of his death. Leaving the White House with many duties concerning our President at the time, and Presidents from other world countries, many duties in the Rose Garden, Arlington National Cemetery and the Tomb of The Unknown Solider. Many ceremonies Woody escorted caissons with our distinguished men and women to Arlington Cemetery. Always profound and daunting, respect most worthy. Once a Marine, always a Marine.
We ask who helped influence his life? Of course, his parents and two other men come to mind
that he highly respected, Ralph Meacham and Enos Dixon. One of the highlights of Woody’s life was working as a curb hop at Alston Bridges Barbeque and the mutual love that Alston and Mabel had for one another. Woody helped his father in the
chemical business and worked at the Shelby City Park. Lem, his younger brother, worked side
by side with him at the Putt Putt facility, bowling alley, golf course but especially the carousel
and train. They also experienced being scouts together. They were together so much, Jim Horn
called them the Lynch boys. As time passed, Jim started relating to my two sons as the Ashe
boys because they reminded him of Woody and Lem, they were also always together.
In the last days at Testa Hospice House, there were shenanigans going on. Woody would start a
pillow fight with me, his younger sister, and I would throw it back. He would take his oxygen off
and throw it at me and I would pick it up and throw it back at him. He was still being a jokester
up until his last days.
Woody is preceded in death by his parents. He is survived by his two sisters Freda Lynch Gibbs and Audrey Lynch Ashe (Gary), and two brothers, Lem Lynch and Hyman Lynch all from Shelby. He is also survived by his Niece, Tia Dabboussi of
Shelby and her four children, Maryam Dabboussi, Abdel Rahman Dabboussi, Fatima Zahra
Dabboussi, and Adam Dabboussi. Niece, Deana Ashe McSwain (Jeremy) of Boiling Springs,
North Carolina and their two children, Kellan McSwain and Ella McSwain. Nephew, Travis Lynch
Ashe (Jill) of Fort Mill, South Carolina and their two children Marissa Ashe and Miley Ashe.
Nephew, Tyler Ashe (Stephanie) of Shelby and their two children, Garrison Ashe and Preston
Ashe. Living first cousins, Mildred, Jenette, Betty Jean, Edith, Essie Jane, Elizabeth, Rebecca,
Martha, Rachel, Recca, Jane, Jerry, Barbara, Doris, Juanita, Ed, Linda, Reta, Tina McNeilly, Butch,
and Patsy.
His best gal pal at work, Mattie Geeta Hiralal. Patti Franklin, a friend for years was like a
daughter to him. Steve Greenwell, his best guy buddy and another friend from Oklahoma, Jim
Connaughton and numerous more friends to mention; one in particular, Mary DeZurik of Minnesota, a fellow marine sergeant, who had placed a brick in his honor at SEMPER FIDELIS Park on the grounds of the National Museum of the Marine Corp in Virginia.
A huge thank you to Cleveland Internal Medicine, Dr. Renee Melton Smith, Angie, Barbara and
supporting staff. Carolina Urology Partners, especially, Janice Jolley and Beth Winkler.
A true testimony of love, giving, caring and heartwarming people at Testa Hospice House in
Kings Mountain. Our angels at Testa, Alice, Kim, Cathy, Steven, Felicia, Cassidy, Lynn, Angie,
Joanne, Linda, Brenda, Angela, Pricilla, Christy and Amy.
Again, as stated, Woody was a proud Marine. He has always been able to fit into his dress blues
from the first time he ever wore them. SEMPER FIDELIS.
Funeral service will be at 2:00pm on Wednesday, February 10, 2021 at the Chapel of Cecil M. Burton Funeral Home & Crematory with Minister Jeremy McSwain, officiating. Burial will follow at Cleveland Memorial Park with full military honors. The chapel will be sanitized prior to the service. Masks and hand sanitizer will be available.
In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to the Hanley Hayes Ashe memorial scholarship fund
for the youth in Christian studies, Union Baptist Church, 3800 Polkville Road, Shelby, NC 28150
or Hospice of Cleveland County, 951 Wendover Heights Drive, Shelby, NC 28150.
FUNERAL SERVICE VIDEO AVAILABLE TO WATCH HERE:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SD5nckmBYC0&feature=youtu.be
