If you’re lucky enough to visit Colonial Williamsburg in Virginia, pause briefly in the visitors center and check out the list of prominent benefactors. The names include Edward and Virginialee Lynch.
Yes, that’s Ed and Dollie Lynch of Vancouver.
The Lynches’ contributions to Clark County have been well documented. They were a big part of the discussion at Sunday’s “Celebration of Ed,” when the community paid tribute to the philanthropist who died May 10.
Ed and Dollie, who died in 2010, also were major contributors to one of America’s leading heritage sites, Colonial Williamsburg. They provided leadership, too. At one point, Ed was co-chair of the President’s Council.
That’s because the living-history site in Virginia continues to embody the spirit that made this country great, their son said.
His dad “was a very strong admirer of our founding fathers, and of the meaning of citizenship and patriotism,” Mike Lynch said. “There is no question that George Washington was his favorite historical figure.”
His office included a chair patterned on a chair designed by Thomas Jefferson, Mike said.
As Mike recalls, the Lynches’ relationship with Colonial Williamsburg can be traced to a trip back east about 45 years ago.
“Our vacations were always surrounded by history museums,” Mike said.
Colonial Williamsburg is that, and more. The Lynches have helped boost its role as an educational center. Locally, that’s meant sending teachers from the Vancouver and Evergreen school districts to special five-day professional development conferences.
Nationally, it’s meant endowing the Ed and Dollie Lynch Citizenship Fund.
The Lynches also helped fund the restoration of a 38-minute film: “Williamsburg — The Story of a Patriot.” Starring a very young Jack (“Hawaii Five-0”) Lord, it has been seen by more than 30 million viewers in a visitor center theater since 1957.
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