Richard Fox Lynam's Obituary
Richard “Dick” Fox Lynam
Teacher, Coach, Beach Concessionaire
Richard “Dick” Fox Lynam, age 90 of Rehoboth Beach, DE and Palm Beach, FL, passed away Wednesday, March 7, 2018 at home, surrounded by family after a short illness. He was born on March 28, 1927 in Newport, DE, son of the late Hyland B. and Margaret (Fox) Lynam and was the youngest of six children: Mrs. Walter Tindall (Bobby), Mrs. Fredrick Benoit (Eleanor), Mr. Hyland “Bill” Lynam, Jr. (Marian), Mrs. Robert McCurry (Jane), and Mr. Thornton G. Lynam. Dick was preceded in death by all of his siblings with the exception of his sister, Jane.
Dick and his family went to Rehoboth in the Depression years where his parents ran a guesthouse on the boardwalk at Baltimore Avenue. From the front of the house, Dick started renting beach umbrellas when he was a young boy. When he was drafted (WWII) into the Army, his father watched over the business. Soon, Dick returned and even while going to Michigan State University to become a teacher, he would spend every summer in Rehoboth Beach running his beach service.
Dick wrestled for the YMCA in Wilmington and at Michigan State University, so when he took his first teaching position at Colywyck Junior High School in the New Castle District, he started a wrestling team. After leaving Colwyck, he went downstate and started the first wrestling program at Delmar High School. From there, he coached at Milford, Millsboro, and lastly, Cape Henlopen High School. He was proud of his many young wrestlers, especially when they brought home State Honors. Dick was an avid runner and coached cross-country at Rehoboth Junior High School. He taught math at high school and junior high school levels and has many students from around the state who have told him how much influence he had on their lives. This is also true of the many “beachboys” and “beachgirls” who have worked for him over the last 75 years. Dick taught shop for several years and was a skilled woodworker, handyman, and even built some of the beach chairs rented from his many blue and white shacks along the shores of Rehoboth and Dewey.
Dick was a member of Epworth United Methodist Church as well as the Rehoboth Beach Country Club, where he enjoyed playing golf and bridge. Dick had a great sense of humor and reveled in making others laugh and feel welcome in his company. Above all, he was a loving and devoted husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother, uncle, and friend. He was loved by many and will be genuinely missed by all who had the opportunity to know him.
Dick is survived by his beloved wife of 65 years, Anne Toppin Lynam; his children: Richard F. Lynam, Jr., William T. Lynam, Robert B. Lynam, John David Lynam, and Christine Lynam Opiela; his grandchildren: Judah B. Lynam, Erin R. Lynam, Victoria A. Lynam, John F. Lynam, Ava K. Lynam, Kiley Reagan, Payton Opiela, Kirrin A. Opiela, and J. Colin Opiela; his great-grandsons: Lucas Lynam and Luke Lynam; his sister, Jane McCurry; his sister-in-law, Kitty Cole; and his many nieces and nephews.
A Funeral Service will be held on Saturday, March 24, 2018 at 10:00 AM at Epworth United Methodist Church, 19285 Holland Glade Road; Rehoboth Beach, DE, followed by interment at Epworth Methodist Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions in Dick’s memory to Epworth United Methodist Church: 19285 Holland Glade Road; Rehoboth Beach, DE 19971, or Trustbridge Hospice of Florida: 300 Northpoint Parkway, #301; West Palm Beach, FL 33407, or Delaware Hospice: 100 Patriots Way; Milford, DE 19963.
Please sign the online guestbook located on this site.
FLORIST NOTE: PLEASE DELIVER ALL FLORAL ARRANGEMENTS BY 3PM FRIDAY, MARCH 23, 2018 TO OUR LEWES LOCATION.
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