Natural Bridge Town Council member passes away

NATURAL BRIDGE  -  Despite suffering from health issues, Gene Lynn provided dedication in every service he rendered, whether it was as a Natural Bridge Town Council member, community  supporter, during his military service or as a veteran.
Lynn, 78, of Natural Bridge,  passed away Sunday, Oct. 9, at his residence.  Lynn was a long-standing town council member, currently serving his third four-year term, noted Natural Bridge Mayor Pete Parrish.
The service Lynn provided to the town was indescribable, yet Parrish did his best to put it into words.

“He was always there to help in any way possible,” Parrish stated. “He attended every meeting he could until his health got bad. He was always there when  health let him, in the community and with the town.”
Many positive changes occurred in the Natural Bridge community during Lynn’s service as a council member, Parrish recalled.
“We built the community center and town hall,” Parrish began.
The community also received a community storm shelter, saw the establishment of a Dollar General in the town and was able to pave a portion of county roads 9 and 3501, town officials said.
Also during Lynn’s tenure,  the town received a grant to restructure a portion of Highway 278 under the railroad overpass, so large trucks could safely pass underneath without having to change their route, often through the nearby town of Lynn.
Gene was the first Natural Bridge town council member to pass away since the death of Jimmy Denton on January 22, 2018, the mayor remarked. After Denton’s death, the council did not fill the vacancy, as a municipal election was not far away to elect a person to fill the seat, Parrish recalled.

Jeremy McCarter was elected to fill Denton’s seat at the municipal election, serving with Lynn, Paul Garrison, Rocky Hulsey and Jim Furlow.
Now that Lynn has passed away, the council was not immediately ready to make a decision on declaring  a vacancy or filling the seat, according to  Parrish.
In fact, their town council meeting, which had been set for Thursday, Oct. 13, was cancelled out of respect for Lynn and his family, town officials said.
The council can continue to conduct business since four council members remain along with the mayor, who also votes. Therefore, the town council has a quorum, Parrish stated.

Since Lynn was a U.S. Army veteran, serving during the Vietnam War, the town has lowered its American flag at town hall  to half-staff as a symbol of honor and respect, the mayor said.
Lynn and his wife, Peggy, were also active members of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 4543 in Haleyville, noted VFW Commander Dwight Thomas.
Lynn got to take an honor flight along with other Vietnam War veterans to visit the Vietnam Memorial  in Washington, D.C., Thomas recalled.
“He was a real outstanding person. He was the type of person who would do anything for you,” he said. “He always helped us on the programs we had.”
A characteristic that stood out with Lynn was his determination to help the cause, even when his health was in decline.
“He came to some of our VFW meetings in a wheelchair even,” Thomas pointed out.
Serving in the past as a trustee with the VFW post, Lynn was a very trustworthy person, Thomas added.
“He was a good member of the VFW and he was an outstanding person in the community,” Thomas concluded.