Ronald Stanley Lynch passed away Tuesday, January 30, 2024, peacefully at his home surrounded by loved ones. Ron was an outstanding role model as a loving son, brother, husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather and great-great grandfather. He was also loved by many friends and acquaintances.

“Ronnie Boy” was born in Naperville, IL on July 17, 1926, to Josephine and Stanley Lynch.  He graduated from Downers Grove High School where he was quarterback for his high school football team and led them to a Championship.  He also played baseball and basketball where he scored the winning basket in the championship game. As a child growing up in Downers Grove, IL, he attended baseball games at Wrigley Field and became a life-long “lovable loser” of the Chicago Cubs. His prayers were answered when the Cubs won the World Series in 2016.  As everyone knows he was an avid sports enthusiast.

He was drafted into the Navy January 8,1945, and was trained as a radioman for submarine duty. Two days before shipping out to assist in the invasion of Japan, his orders were canceled due to Japan’s surrender after the dropping of the two atomic bombs. (Perhaps this is the reason he was such an avid Richland Bomber fan.) He was honorably discharged July 24,1946.

He married Marjorie Gibson in 1946 and they had five children.  They divorced in 1977.  They moved to Tri-Cities in 1951 where he began employment as a Patrolman on the Hanford Project. According to one of his former employees he handed out a lot of tickets as a patrolman. Could that be why they later transferred him to the powerhouse as a power operator?  He retired as a Powerhouse Supervisor in 1989.

He was a referee and umpire for Football, Basketball and Baseball throughout the greater Columbia Basin.

In 1985 he met his wife Kathleen Lynch at a jazz dance, and they were married for over 30 years. Together they attended many jazz festivals across the country and hosted jazz bands and dances at the Pasco Eagles where he was a member and treasurer.

He could always be seen at all Richland Bomber sporting events. He was a season ticket holder of the Dust Devils since their first season, as far back as when they were the Tri-City Braves. However, he always gave priority to attending his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren’s games.

Ronald is survived by his children, Ronna Jo Lynch, Mickey (George) Rose, Kerry (Jackie) Lynch, Dennis (Jill) Lynch and Kelly McClendon, 15 grandchildren, 30 great-grandchildren and 1 great-great grandson and 2 great-greats in the oven.

Ronald is preceded in death by his wife Kathleen, parents Stanley & Josephine Lynch, sisters and their husbands, Alta & Ed Sell and Beverly & Ed Knickerbocker.

We would like to give a special thank you to Stephen Wendt of Atomic Home Healthcare and his nurse Adriana Eckroth; The Veterans Administration and their CNA’s, Jesse Gonzalez, Raquel Rodriguez and Danielle Horntvedt; Heartlinks Hospice, Lisa, Craig and Amy. They provided quality care and developed special relationships with our Dad.

In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made in Ron’s name to:

Richland Bomber Athletics – c/o Adrian Ochoa, 930 Long Avenue, Richland, WA 99352   —    Heartlinks Hospice, 204 W. 2^nd Street, Grandview, WA 98930.

Family and friends are invited to a Memorial Service at Einan’s Event Center, 915 Bypass Highway, Richland, WA on February 17, 2024. Viewing 9:00 – 10:00 a.m., Service 10:00-11:00 a.m. with Military Honors.

To honor our Father, please wear sports attire, no black. 

“He was a great fan and a great man” – Ben Jacobs.