Edwin Lynch's Background
Edwin Lynch was born on January 11, 1913, in Annandale, Virginia. He was the second son born to Vernon and Minnie Lynch. For most of his life, he worked on the land that his family owned. In the year 1936, he married Helen Webb. In 1945, he began his political career and served as the Democratic Fairfax County Delegate in Virginia General Assembly’s House of Delegates. He was passionate about many issues, such as education, taxes, and conflict resolution. At the time, desegregation of schools was the main issue in regards to education, and Lynch sought to integrate the Virginia schools. He also believed that the poll tax, which was still in effect in Virginia, should be abolished. He was a member of the Virginia Council on Human Relations, which worked through state and local groups to improve communication between the black and white populations. Later in life, Lynch contributed to conflict resolution by participating in the peace protest movements during the Vietnam War era. He also donated time, money, and eventually his home in Mason Neck to George Mason University’s School for Conflict Analysis and Resolution. He was a member of many different organizations, including the Wolf Trap Foundation Board, Virginia Savings and Loan Association, the Salvation Army, and the National Association of the Southern Poor. He owned three different farms, but he sold most of his property to the city and county to be turned into golf courses, shopping malls, and homes. Edwin Lynch died on March 17, 2004, at his Mason Neck home.
References
“Changing Lives: the Lynch Family - Giving to GMU: George Mason University Advancement.” Giving to GMU | George Mason University Advancement, August 24, 2016. https://giving.gmu.edu/giving/changing-lives-the-lynch-family/.
“Edwin Lynch, Fairfax Developer and Legislator, Dies.” The Washington Post. WP Company, March 23, 2004. https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/local/2004/03/23/edwin-lynch-fairfax-developer-and-legislator-dies/11f258d7-8011-452a-8c9f-719bc05eb77d/.
Edwin W. Lynch Vietnam War protest collection, Collection #C0080, Special Collections Research Center, George Mason University Libraries.
“Philanthropy at Point of View.” George Mason University. https://scar.gmu.edu/give/philanthropy-point-view.
“Virginia Council on Human Relations.” William & Mary Libraries, July 11, 2017. https://libraries.wm.edu/exhibits/virginia-council-human-relations.
Virginia Department of Health; Richmond, Virginia; Virginia, Births, 1864-2016
Virginia Department of Health; Richmond, Virginia; Virginia, Marriages, 1936-2014; Roll: 101168136
“Virginia HJ332.” TrackBill, February 1996. https://trackbill.com/bill/virginia-house-joint-resolution-332-commending-edwin-williams-lynch/507976/.