Catherine Lynch

BENJAMIN FUNERAL SERVICE NOWATA, OKLAHOMA 918-273-2700....

Oh, my! If angels speak, these were undoubtedly the words of Catherine Virginia (Kate) O’Neil Lynch when she got her first glimpse of Heaven.

Kate was born the eighth of nine children on August 14, 1926, to Charles A. and Edna Vogus O’Neil in Okmulgee, OK, and passed into her Savior’s arms on Monday, November 23, 2020. She graduated from Holdenville (OK) High School in 1944 and attended Oklahoma City University. On July 21, 1946, she married the love of her life, Howard Dayle Lynch. They had one son, Howard Dayle Lynch, Jr.

Kate was the Business Manager of the Nowata (OK) public schools and served as the school district treasurer for 16 years. She and Dayle were accomplished golfers, and she served on the board of the Nowata Country Club. Kate was a lifelong member of the United Methodist Church, and she sang in the choir for many years while a member of her church in Nowata.

Although Kate retired from her professional life in 1983, she was never idle. She treasured her years with Dayle until his passing in February of 2004. Kate was an avid bird watcher and lover of books. She devoured four to five novels every week until the last few days of her life.

In addition to her husband Dayle, Kate was predeceased by her son Howard and her faithful dachshund Annie. She was also preceded in death by her parents, her brothers Joseph A. O’Neil, Donald C. O’Neil, Herbert C. O’Neil, Forrest V. O’Neil, Arnold E. O’Neil, and Lawrence M. (Pat) O’Neil, and her sisters Louise O’Neil Ward and Marguerite (Peggy) O’Neil Austin. Surviving Kate are her loving grandson Adam Lynch of Tulsa, OK, her great-granddaughter Peyton Kaia Ruddell-Lynch of Orlando, FL., her sister-in-law Judy O’Neil of Edmond, OK, and numerous nieces and nephews.

Kate’s family would like to offer a special thank you to her caregivers and the staff at Franklin Park Assisted Living in Round Rock, TX, where she spent her last two years. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to the Nowata United Methodist Church Endowment Fund (www.nowataumc.org/endowment-fund), the Nowata City-County Library

(www.nowataok.gov/nowata-city-county-library), or the charity of your choice.

A memorial service will be held at a later date after a private burial in Nowata, OK.