William Lynch

William Hughie Lynch, age 87, was promoted to Glory on the 19th of May, 2019, in San Antonio, Texas.  William (Bill) was preceded in death by his parents, his wife of 54 years, Helen; his brothers, John Henry Lynch, James Roy Lynch, Jr., and Guy Lynch; and his sisters, Mildred Johnson and Ira Lee Holt.

Bill is survived by his sister and brother-in-law, Ila Mae and Jim Huxley of Shelbyville, Texas; his sister-in-law, Florence Lynch of Willis, Texas; his daughter Kathy Blair of San Antonio, Texas; his son and daughter-in-law Tim and Patty Lynch of Floresville, Texas; his grandchildren Tiffany (Danny) Colmenares, Shawn (Hillary) Blair, Ashley (Juaquin) Garcia, and Melissa Lynch; his great-grandchildren Finnian and Silas Blair, and Ella Garcia; and his nieces and nephews and other relatives and dear friends.

The family will be greeting friends and relatives at Chapel Hill Funeral Home, 7735 Gibbs Sprawl Road, San Antonio, Texas at 5:00 P.M., on Friday, May 24, 2019.  A memorial service will be held at Chapel Hill Funeral Home at 10:00 A.M. on Saturday, May 25, 2019.  Burial will follow at Chapel Hill Memorial Park’s Field of Honor.  Missionary Baptist Church of San Antonio will host a fellowship and meal after the service at 14518 Higgins Road, San Antonio, TX 78217.

In lieu of flowers the family requests memorial donations be made to Texas Baptist Institute and Seminary, Post Office Box 570, Henderson, Texas 75653.  Condolences may be left on the online guest book of William H. Lynch at chapelhillfuneralhomesanantoniotx.com.

Bill was born on the 4th of July, 1931, in San Augustine County, Texas, to James Roy and Lula Mae (Cooper) Lynch.  He grew up farming as the son of a share-cropper in Shelby, San Augustine, and Nacogdoches counties.

On April 16, 1947, one of the largest explosions to have ever occurred rocked the Texas City port, killing hundreds of people.  That night, Bill dreamed of the horrors of Hell.  He knelt beside his bed, asked the Lord into his heart, and was born again.  On January 12, 1953, he surrendered to the ministry of the Gospel.  Bill joined the Army in October 1953 and served for two years.  During his training at Fort Bliss in El Paso, he participated in the filming of the movie “Take the High Ground!”  He said he co-starred with Richard Widmark.  After training, he served in Germany as a personnel administrator, operating some of the earliest IBM computer systems.  He was instrumental in organizing Youth for Christ and other ministries while in Germany.  Bill was discharged in October 1955, after achieving the rank of Corporal.  He had earned his high school diploma from Center High School, in Center, Texas, in May 1955, and received his diploma the same time as his younger sister received hers.

On July 1, 1955, Bill was ordained by Galena Park Missionary Baptist Church of Galena Park, Texas.  He entered Texas Baptist Institute and Seminary (TBI), in Henderson, Texas, where he met Helen Seals, who was the first woman to graduate from TBI with a Master of English Bible degree.  Bill and Helen married on December 30, 1955.  Bill graduated with a Bachelor of Theology degree on May 9, 1958.  He pastored Highway Missionary Baptist Church in Huntington, Texas, and Union Cross Missionary Baptist Church in Nacogdoches, Texas.

Bill served as a State Missionary sent by Galena Park Missionary Baptist Church, and endorsed by the Missionary Baptist Association of Texas, from 1960 to 1967.  In 1961, Bill moved his family of four to San Antonio, Texas.  Bill was the founding pastor of Missionary Baptist Church of San Antonio, then located on Austin Highway, and was instrumental in the organization of other churches and missions in South Texas.

Bill was instrumental in the organization of the Mission Valley Missionary Baptist Association on January 28, 1967, and the first messenger meeting was held March 4, 1967, at Missionary Baptist Church of San Antonio, then located at 251 Sherri Ann Road in northeast San Antonio, Texas, in the 52 years that have followed, over 29 churches and missions, led by more than 74 pastors and missionaries, have chosen to fellowship with the Mission Valley Missionary Baptist Association, representing 23 towns and cities located from the Gulf Cost, to the Rio Grande Valley, to the Hill Country, and beyond.  Bill was dedicated to promote the Gospel through the support of missionaries throughout the world, the support and operation of Bible Schools, including Mission Valley Missions School of Scripture, and Bible Camp ministries, such as Mission Valley Missions Camp and Park in Floresville, Texas, Youth Rallies, Annual Messenger Assemblies, and other cooperative efforts.

The Bible study booklet, “Witnessing for Christ”, prepared by William Lynch, was designed especially to prepare young people for effective witnessing, is published by Bogard Press, and is still available for use by camps, youth groups, and Vacation Bible Schools.

In December 2004, TBI conferred upon Bill, having completed fifty years in the ministry of our Lord, and having sat under the teachings of Dr. A. J. Kirkland, the honorary degree of Doctorate of Ministerial Endurance.

In January 2013, Joe Caballero joined with the family to assist with Bill’s care.  Joe and his family members provided constant, loving companionship and support to Bill and his family over the next six years.  Bill became a resident of Regent Care Center of Oakwell Farms in November 2016, where he continued ministering to others through his smiles and prayers until he left this walk of life.