Gerald Orvel Lynn

Gerald O. Lynn Gerald Orvel Lynn was born in a log cabin in Lovell, Wyoming, on December 5, 1915, to Hulda Sophia Morrell and Orvel Hatch Lynn. He passed away peacefully at his home in Bountiful, Utah on his 94th birthday, December 5, 2009, surrounded by his family. He graduated in 1941 from Brigham Young and in 1944 from the Los Angeles College of Optometry, today known as the Southern California College of Optometry. From 1936 until 1939 her served as a missionary in Argentina for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-days Saints. He served under Presidents W. Ernest Young and Frederick G. Williams, two giants in the history of the Mormon Church in South America. After witnessing the early days of Church growth in Argentina, it was a thrill for him to return in 1986 to attend the temple dedication in Buenos Aires. The excellent Spanish he learned while in Argentina was important to him for the rest of his life. His missionary companions and other friends he met through Spanish-speaking connections were his main social circle and his optometric practice, on Spring Street in downtown Los Angeles, was for many years a gathering place for Spanish-speaking friends. He was known for his cheerfulness and his natural ability to make and keep lifelong friends. He and Mary Callan of Preston, Idaho, were married December 19, 1941 in the Salt Lake Temple. Their mutual devotion during almost 68 years of marriage contributed to their long and productive lives. In Burbank, California, Gerald served as Bishop of the Burbank Ward and as a High Councilor in the Burbank and North Hollywood Stakes. He was later called as a Stake Patriarch, with the special assignment of giving blessing to Spanish-speaking members. He continued to serve in this capacity when he and Mary moved to St. George in 1997. In 2003 the Lynn’s moved to Salt Lake City. As the years went by, Gerald was blessed to retain his alertness, good disposition and phenomenal memory. Until shortly before his death, he worked as a Church Service Missionary summarizing Spanish and Spanish-related documents for the Church History Library. He is survived by his wife, Mary Callan Lynn; his daughters, Karen Davidson (David), Barbara Rencher (Roy), and Diana Roskuski (Ron); grandchildren Deborah Lin (Solomon), Brent Henderson, Jeffrey Henderson, Mary Ince (Christopher); and great-grandchildren Naomi Lin, Joshua Lin, Daniel Lin, Rebekah Lin, and Diana Ince; niece Joann Penrod (Dallas); sister Iris Kindred; and sister-in-law Reva Lynn. Many other relatives from the Lynn and Callan families, as well as his many friends, enriched Gerald’s life and were in turn enriched themselves. We thank the kind staff of the Inn on Barton Creek and South Davis Hospice, as well as the wonderful leaders of the Barton Creek Branch. Funeral services will be held at 4 pm on Wednesday, December 9, 2009 at Lindquist’s Bountiful Mortuary, 727 N. 400 E. where friends are invited to gather at 3 pm. Interment will take place the following day in Dayton, Idaho. In lieu of flowers contributions may be made to the LDS Perpetual Educational Fund. Condolences may be shared at www.lindquistmortuary.com