Charles Lynch

Charles Lynch, 83, of Atlantic Beach, passed away Friday, February 23, 2024, at his home.

A visitation will be held from 5:00 PM to 6:00 PM on Saturday, March 2, 2024 at Noe-Brooks Funeral Home of Morehead City with a memorial service starting at 6:00 PM.

A cherished husband, father, and grandfather, Charlie delighted in the natural world and shared it with all who loved him. He was born in Richmond, Virginia and then moved with father, Charles Townsend Lynch, Sr., his mother, Jean Dewey Lynch, and brother Peter Lynch, to New Jersey. His early love of the outdoors was evident when he started the first Audubon Club for bird watching in Haddon, NJ as a 12 year-old. That first meeting was attended by local adult bird lovers. Birding and ornithology remained a lifelong passion and avocation.

Charlie moved to North Carolina in 1956, where he met his first and life-long love, Annette Cooper, whose family became his family after his mother moved to New Orleans and his brother and father remained in New Jersey. He attended Morehead High School before completing his Bachelor of Science degree at Duke University, where he also developed a lifelong love of literature and learning. At Duke, Charlie was a member of the Phi Kappa Sigma fraternity. His then fiance, Annette graduated a year later, in 1964, when they married. For many summers, Charlie worked at the Duke Marine Laboratory in Beaufort, N.C. Charlie completed his medical degree at Duke in 1967, where his son Michael was born, and, in 1967-1968, a pediatric internship.

From 1969-1970, Charlie served in the Public Health Service in Montana on Crow Agency, where his daughter Laura was born. He returned to Duke University for his residency in radiology.

In 1972, Charlie and Annette moved to a farm in Newburgh, Maine. Committed to sustainability, they created a farm where they raised much of their own food, traded with neighbors, and developed a rich community of friends. Charlie was a co-founder of the Andrews, Lynch and Field radiology group and practiced at Eastern Maine Medical Center until his retirement in 1999.

Charlie’s love for the outdoors led him to many years of captaining his boats in Bogue Sound and Penobscot Bay in Maine. For a number of years, he and Annette enjoyed sailing with friends from Maine to the Bahamas, and once sailed and then later motored the inland waterway. He also enjoyed traveling with his different family members, making it to five of the seven continents to show them the wonders of the world.

From birding to gardening to building boats and boating to being in the woods and fields to collect maple for syrup, to collect apples for cider, or simply to walk and enjoy--Charlie's curiosity and love of life were vital and contagious. A student of art, Charlie admired Vincent Van Gogh and this quote: "If you truly love nature you will find beauty everywhere." Charlie found and created beauty for all those around him everywhere he lived.

His grandchildren cherished his Sunday pancake and bacon breakfasts served up with Vivaldi. He loved and was loved deeply and will be deeply missed and lovingly remembered.

He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Annette Lynch, his son Michael Lynch and his wife Lindley, daughter Laura Lynch and her husband Mark, and grandchildren Katherine Lynch, Eleanor Lynch, Charles Lynch, Christopher Lynch, who carry on his kindness, compassion, and curiosity to understand and be in the world.

His extended family include his sister-in-law, Fanella Willis, and her children, Shelli, Cooper, and Craig and their children; his brother-in-law, Buddy Cooper, and his children, Hallock and Trace, and their children; his sister-in-law, Pamela Cooper; and sister-in-law Lois Lynch and her children, Peggy and Martin.

In lieu of flowers, plant a beautiful memorial tree in memory of Charles; please visit the Noe-Brooks Funeral Home Tree Store. For those wishing to honor Charles with a gift, please consider making a donation to the North Carolina Coastal Federation or to the Sierra Club.

Condolences and life tributes may be sent to the family at www.noebrooks.net

Arrangements by Noe-Brooks Funeral Home, Morehead City, NC.