Obituary: Lynam, Edward J.
Age 96
(Age 95) Edward Lynam peacefully passed away in his sleep on January 24th.
He was brought into this world on February 10th, 1918 in Miles City, Montana by his loving parents Edward and Louise Lynam.
Ed graduated from Custer County High School where he excelled in football and band, also playing violin in the orchestra.
Fresh out of high school, Ed began his working career for the Milwaukee Railroad where he started as a laborer in 1937.
After his long days of work in the railroad yard, Ed went to the telegraph office where he taught himself how to relay messages.
Shortly thereafter, he met and married the love of his life, Echo Wynne.
He surprised her with a lavish honeymoon at the Davenport Hotel in Spokane, Washington - Echo was thoroughly impressed.
All of that practice on the telegraph machine had paid off, and in 1938 Edward was promoted to Operator/Agent in the North Dakota division - he was on his way up.
The following year Ed transferred to Mobridge, South Dakota, where he furthered his career as a Train Dispatcher.
Echo and Ed relocated to Butte, Montana and had three children, Edward, Mary Lou and Robert.
In 1957 Ed and his family moved to Aberdeen, South Dakota where he was promoted to Train Master and their fourth child, Deborah was born.
Nine years later, Edward and his family made their way to the Inland Empire, where he was appointed Superintendent of the Western Division in Spokane, Washington.
Edward had worked his way up to the top of the company from the humble beginnings of swinging a pick axe in the rail yard.
Ed retired from the Milwaukee Railroad in 1978.
For thirty years following his retirement, he joined his fellow railroad retirees for an annual picnic, where they enjoyed reminiscing about all of their accomplishments and time spent together.
In their golden years…when the weather was warm…Edward and Echo spent each morning at Sundance Golf Course.
Ed took great pride in telling the tale of his first ever hole-in-one at the young age of 80.
When the fairways at Sundance were blanketed in snow, Ed and Echo left the cold Spokane winters behind and flew south, spending months at a time in Las Vegas with Ed’s younger brother Gordon.
He spent the last four years of his life at Moran Vista, where he had many dear friends.
Ed will be missed by not only his family, but everyone who knew him.
His family is very fortunate for having the opportunity to spend so many years with Ed and are thankful that three generations will have many happy memories.
Edward was a lifetime member of both the Knights of Columbus and the Miles City Elks Lodge.
Ed and his wife Echo were also members of Assumption Parish for over 40 years.
Preceded in death by his son Robert in 1995 and his wife of 69 years, Echo in 2009.
Survived by son Edward and wife Marykit Lynam; daughter Marylou and husband Richard Chambers, daughter Deborah Lynam; sister-in-law Joyce Haughawout; 10 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren.
Services will be held at Assumption Catholic Church on March 15th at 11:00am.
To view Edward’s online memorial, please visit www.hennesseyfuneralhomes.com.
Arrangements entrusted to