A short portrait
I have traced the life of Donald Walton Lynch as if following the rings of a ponderosa pine. He was born on December 4, 1915, and he died on December 4, 2007. Those two identical dates frame a long arc of curiosity, practical science, and family life. He served in the U.S. Navy in World War II, married Edwina Sundholm in 1945, and became a research scientist whose work on ponderosa pine and stand management left ripples in Forest Service literature. In what follows I stitch together dates, names, and stories to show both the public man and the private network that formed his life.
Early life and military service
Donald Walton Lynch arrived in 1915. He spent formative years that culminated in service during World War II. I find his naval record marked by the rank of Lieutenant, an anchor point that explains later burial at a national cemetery. After the war he returned to civilian life and to scholarship, a path that combined the discipline of a veteran with the patience of a field scientist.
Career and scientific contributions
Donald worked for the Forest Service and the U.S. Department of Agriculture for the majority of his career. He wrote a research titled Growth of Ponderosa Pine on Best Sites in 1953. Although it’s not a particularly fancy title, it conveys the type of meticulous, patient job he did: determining slope and soil, assessing growth, and suggesting silvicultural treatments. His name can be found on technical papers and coauthored citations that had an impact on regional forest management during the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s.
He effectively served as a liaison between managers and trees. Plots, long-term observations, and numbers were the language of his trade. However, the outcome was useful; his study influenced the thinning of stands, the promotion of regeneration, and the preservation of forest health. These are the kinds of accomplishments that influence landscapes for decades without making headlines.
Family and personal life
A recurring theme in Donald Lynch’s life was family. In 1945, he wed Edwina, also known as Sunny. John, Martha, and David were the three children they raised together. On January 20, 1946, David Keith Lynch was born. The Lynch family tree’s most apparent branch, David, went on to become a well-known director.
The rhythms of a career in federal research dictated how the home operated. The children’s early years were affected by assignments, moves, and a scientist’s nomadic lifestyle. I imagine a family that has seen its patriarch juggle parenthood and field reports, one that is used to change but yet rooted in customs and shared meals.
Children and descendents table
| Name | Relation to Donald Walton Lynch | Notes and dates |
|---|---|---|
| Edwina Lynch | Spouse | Married January 16, 1945; life dates often noted 1919 to 2004 |
| David Keith Lynch | Son | Born January 20, 1946; filmmaker; father of several children including Jennifer, Austin, Riley, and Lula |
| John W. Lynch | Son | Listed in family notices as residing in Olympia, Washington |
| Martha Lynch (Levacy) | Daughter | Identified in local notices, associated with San Diego area |
| Jennifer | Grandchild | One of nine grandchildren named in a 2007 family obituary |
| Austin Jack Lynch | Grandchild | Named among grandchildren; later public references link him to David |
| Riley | Grandchild | Named among grandchildren; associated with David’s family |
| Edward, Steven, Andrew, Michael, Robert, Patrick | Grandchildren | Named collectively in obituary as part of nine grandchildren |
| Sydney | Great grandchild | Listed as one great-grandchild in a 2007 obituary |
| Lula Boginia Lynch | Great grandchild | Born in 2012; a later generation tied to David’s line |
I list dates where they are available to me. The family table is a scaffold. Some grandchildren are mapped clearly to David. Others appear by name in family notices but without a public, unequivocal parent mapping.
An extended timeline in numbers
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 1915 | Birth of Donald Walton Lynch – December 4 |
| 1945 | Marriage to Edwina Sundholm – January 16 |
| 1946 | Birth of son David Keith Lynch – January 20 |
| 1953 | Publication – Growth of Ponderosa Pine on Best Sites |
| 1970s | Continued Forest Service research and citations in silvics literature |
| 2004 | Death of Edwina Lynch |
| 2007 | Death of Donald Walton Lynch – December 4 |
When I read dates I read them as milestones that mark both private and public change. The 1953 study sits like a small cairn on the trail of a scientific career. The twin December 4 dates form a quiet symmetry that feels almost architectural.
Personality and presence
If I had to capture his demeanor in a sentence I would say this: he combined empirical precision with a patient steadiness. He was the kind of person who measured rings and also remembered birthdays. I infer from the mix of military service, long research career, and family commitments that he was disciplined, methodical, and quietly generous with his time.
Recent mentions and legacy
He passed away in 2007, so contemporary mentions are mostly contextual. His name resurfaces in family profiles, genealogical records, and discussions about the upbringing of his son David. I find that his professional output remains folded into forest science histories. He is a contributor to a body of work that keeps informing land management decisions decades after publication.
FAQ
Who was Donald Walton Lynch?
I consider him a U.S. Navy veteran and a Forest Service research scientist born on December 4, 1915, who focused on ponderosa pine and silviculture and who died on December 4, 2007.
What did he study and publish?
He authored Growth of Ponderosa Pine on Best Sites in 1953 and appeared on technical reports and coauthored studies throughout the 1950s to 1970s related to ponderosa pine growth and stand management.
Who were his immediate family members?
He married Edwina Sundholm in 1945. They had three children – David, John, and Martha. There were nine grandchildren named in a family obituary – Jennifer, Edward, Steven, Andrew, Austin, Michael, Robert, Patrick, and Riley – and at least one great grandchild, Sydney. Later generations include Lula Boginia Lynch.
Was he related to any public figures?
Yes. His son David Keith Lynch, born January 20, 1946, is a well known filmmaker. Some grandchildren are publicly linked to David.
Where did he serve in the military?
He served in the U.S. Navy during World War II and held the rank of Lieutenant.
What is the most enduring part of his legacy?
His technical publications on ponderosa pine and stand management remain part of the fabric of regional forest science. Family stories, passed down through names like David, Jennifer, Austin, Riley, and Lula, also carry his lineage forward.
Are there gaps in public knowledge about his family?
Yes. While many family names appear in obituaries and later profiles, the precise parentage mapping for every grandchild named in a 2007 obituary is not always explicit in public notices. I have reported names as they were listed and noted where direct mappings are clear.
What dates are most relevant to remember?
Key dates are December 4, 1915 (birth), January 16, 1945 (marriage), January 20, 1946 (birth of son David), 1953 (noted publication), and December 4, 2007 (death).
