Ionia County MI Archives Obituaries.....Lynch, Benjamin 1949
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Sandy Heintzelman sheintz@iserv.net August 25, 2014, 11:01 am

Belding Banner-News, 8 Dec 1949

The death of Benjamin Lynch, aged 73 years, took place at the Ionia county
infirmary, west of Ionia, where he had been an inmate for the past 17 years, on
Friday afternoon of last week. 

The body was brought to this city by Arthur Fitzjohn and funeral services, with
Rev. Lester Clough, pastor of the Methodist church, officiating, were held on
Sunday afternoon, after which the remains were placed in the mausoleum at River
Ridge cemetery, to await interment in a plot in the cemetery which is reserved
for indigents, at some time in the spring of 1950.

Mrs. Clara Hickman, matron at the infirmary, where her husband, Alfred Hickman
is superintendent, informed the Banner-News that Mr. Lynch had been taken to Ann
Arbor for treatment at University hospital on Aug. 2nd and that he had remained
there until Aug. 26th, when he was returned, improved in condition to the
infirmary.  Friday noon he had eaten a rather hearty meal and was sitting in the
main room at the home, visiting with other inmates, when he suddenly slumped
forward, dead.  Mrs. Hickman, who with her husband took over management of the
infirmary last Jan. 1st, said that the man had never received callers or friends
nor had any mail during the time they were there and that apparently he was
without relatives or friends.

Older residents will remember Ben Lynch as a victim of paralysis which afflicted
his right side and caused him to drag his leg and made his right arm useless. 
His facial features were also distorted by the affliction.  He lived in the
Chadwick and Long Lake districts for many years and worked for various farmers
before going to the county farm 17 years ago.  He had lived at the home of the
late George Hagadorn for a number of years and Mrs. Christine Wacha, together
with her husband, John usually went to call on him once or twice each year. 
Last year they did not get over to see him, but remembered him with a greeting
card at Christmas.

He was a son of the late Charles and Sarah Lynch, early day Long Lake district
residents.  A brother, George, who left home early in life was never heard from
and another brother, Jim died quite a number of years ago, near Long Lake.  A
sister, Lillie, died as a young woman shortly after her marriage to a young man
by the name of Dave Lane.  George Ravell, long time resident of the long Lake
section, knew the family well and had employed both Ben Lynch and his father at
various times.

Arthur Fitzjohn stated that in his more than 30 years as funeral director,
Lynch’s funeral was the first which he had ever conducted where not even one
relative or friend showed up to attend the services and pay last respects to the
dead.  This was partially due to the fact that no record of relatives or friends
was had at the infirmary and Mrs. Wacha did not know of the death until informed
of it by the Banner-News.  She, as well as others would have been present at the
services had they known of the death.  Mrs. Wacha will be present at the
interment next spring.

When this writer heard of Lynch’s death, he talked with 12 of the older
residents of this city – all of whom had known the man but who had forgotten him
in the 17 years he had been away – before he found one person who remembered him.


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