Thomas Hoover Lynch

LYNCH, THOMAS HOOVER REV. - June 20, 2011, answered a call to ministry at age 30 and served United Methodist churches in East Tennessee for 33 years, including his most recent pastorate at Trinity United Methodist in Greeneville between 1986 and 1991. He remained Pastor Emeritus until his death. Born and raised in LaFollette, TN, the son of R.D. and Martha McLain Lynch, Rev. Lynch married Wilma Lou Hatfield, the love of his life, in 1950. An avid businessman, he owned several small businesses before entering the ministry. An Air Force veteran, he was a graduate of Tennessee Wesleyan College and Candler School of Theology at Emory University. Pastor Tom considered himself a pastor in a local church and chaplain to the greater community. Privileged to be one of the ministers who established the local food bank in Greeneville, he never stopped working on community outreach programs. He established the office of Director of Development at Holston Home for Children. He was a Mason and a Shriner who supported the Shiner Children's Hospital and other programs. He loved to hunt and fish, especially in Alaska, and enjoyed frequent fishing trips there whether he brought home any salmon or not! He was preceded in death by ten siblings and an infant son. Survivors include Wilma, his wife of sixty years, his son Thomas M. of Chattanooga and his wife Teresa, and three daughters: Amy of Nashville, Fran of Willow, Alaska, and her husband JD Baxter, and Marty in Greeneville. He is also survived by four grandchildren, Will and Hannah Lynch of Chattanooga; and Jean and Sara Lynch-Thomason of Asheville, NC, one great-grandchild, Ka'oula Madrone Shannon, a sister, Annette Kincaid, and many nieces and nephews. Family will receive friends at Trinity UMC in Greeneville from 4 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, June 23. A Memorial Service will be held at 7:00 p.m. Pastor David Brannock will officiate. Holston United Methodist ministers will be honorary pall bearers. A private interment service will be in the family cemetery in LaFollette, TN, at a later date. Memorials may be sent to Trinity United Methodist Church, 524 Tusculum Blvd., Greeneville, TN 37743 for the building fund or to support the ministry of Deaconess Fran Lynch in Willow, Alaska.