William Penfield Lynch

William (Bill) Penfield Lynch, 78, passed away in Anchorage, Alaska, on July 7, 2025. He was born on August 26, 1946, in Providence, Rhode Island, and spent most of his life in or near his hometown.

Bill graduated from Hope High School in Providence and went on to earn an Associate of Arts degree from Roger Williams College. He later received a Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Science from the University of Vermont. Bill was a Senior Airman in the United States Air Force for four years from 1966 until 1970, most of that time stationed in Guam.

For several years he worked at Bath Iron Works in Bath, Maine, and from 1991 until 2008 he worked in the greenhouses at Swan Point Cemetery in Providence. His days there gave him a quiet sense of purpose, and he took genuine pleasure in the landscape. At the end of his working day he often lingered to walk through the grounds he knew so well. The flower gardens, especially the brilliant variety of geraniums, brought him particular joy. He had a deep appreciation for the trees of his native New England and a remarkable knowledge of them as well as more than a passing familiarity with trees from around the world. Once, when asked about the wood paneling in a doctor's office, he immediately identified it as Tigerwood from Brazil.

Bill had a lifelong appreciation for the natural world, a quiet but enduring passion that shaped much of his life. He found his greatest peace walking alone in the woods or hiking the mountains of New England and Alaska, often in the company of his beloved brother Ralph and close friends.

Bill was also known for his extraordinary memory. He had an encyclopedic recall of family dates and historical details. If asked, he would pause briefly and then supply the precise information, whether it was a wedding anniversary or the date of the deepest snowfall recorded on Mt. Washington.

To know Bill was to appreciate his unfailing courtesy and thoughtfulness. He was a gentleman in the truest sense-gracious, attentive, and quietly dignified. His gratitude for even the smallest kindnesses left a lasting impression. His gentle nature was evident to all, perhaps especially in his later years.

Bill was predeceased by his parents, John Reighard Lynch of Providence and Gertrude Davis Scott of Little Compton, Rhode Island. He is survived by his brother Ralph Davis Lynch of Anchorage, Alaska; his sister Susan Lynch Ruddy of Halibut Cove, Alaska; his niece, Lydia Kimball Ruddy of Anchorage; and his nephew, Sean William Ruddy of Castle Rock, Colorado. He also leaves many dear friends in his home state of Rhode Island. Gifts in his memory may be made to Swan Point Cemetery, Providence, RI.