ELLEN LYNCH PARKHILL

10 May 1930 – 31 March 2025

Born to Ed and Margaret Lynch on May 10, 1930 in Dallas TX, Ellen was the eldest of four children in a family that moved frequently throughout NW Texas and New Mexico. At Lubbock High School, she began dating Buzz, brother of her friend Jean. However, her family moved to Abilene where Ellen graduated then attended Eastern New Mexico College for a year.

She returned to Lubbock and married Buzz on October 25, 1952 and set off on a Florida honeymoon courtesy of the US Air Force. It was the beginning of a 30-year adventure that took them to Kansas where son Mike was born, Maine where they had Peggi, then Louisiana and Virginia before Buzz went to Southeast Asia. Ellen took the kids to Lubbock to enjoy 18 months with extended family, and attended Texas Tech there. Assignments in California and Michigan followed, then 2 years on Guam where she was OWC Gift Shop Chairman and travelled extensively. After another tour at Barksdale AFB in Louisiana with the kids in college, Buzz was assigned to Kadena AB, Okinawa and Ellen served as OWC Tour Chairman. This Texas girl never dreamed she'd visit all 50 states and 33 countries in her lifetime! Upon Buzz's retirement in Ft Worth TX, Ellen sold real estate for 15 years, took up gardening, and was active in church choir and Sweet Adelines. They moved to AFV/Blue Skies West in 2001, where she was a Vista Volunteer and enjoyed playing bridge, cooking Sunday lunch for local family, attending concerts, and exploring San Antonio, until the pandemic slowed her down. She really loved life at "the village."

Ellen was preceded in death by her younger siblings Tom, Janet, and Doug, as well as her beloved son, Mike. She will be profoundly missed by Buzz and Peggi, daughter-in-law D, nephew Sean and his wife Valerie, and a multitude of friends and other family members who meant so much to her.

Service will be held at the Blue Skies West High Flight Chapel on Monday, 28 April at 1pm, followed by a celebration of life in the Roadrunner Lounge. If you'd like to make a contribution in her name, please consider the Air Force Village Charitable Foundation.