Edward D. Lynch, of Melrose, died at the Life Care Center in Stoneham on September 15, 2005, at the age of 80. He was born and raised in Melrose, was a lifelong Melrose resident, attended St. Marys Grammar School and was a graduate of Melrose High School, Class of 1942. After high school Ed entered the US Navy, serving for 4 years in the Pacific during WWII. He was awarded 5 battle stars while seeing action in Layte & Luzon in the Philippines, Saipan, the Marshall Islands, Tinian and Okinawa. He received the WWII Victory Medal, American Theatre Medal, Philippine Liberation Medal, Good Conduct Medal and the Asiatic-Pacific Theatre Medal. Mr. Lynch worked as a Telephone Technician for N.E. Telephone & Verizon for over 39 years, until his retirement in 1986. He was a life member of the Melrose Elks & was a Past Exalted Ruler. He was Past President of the New England Telephone Pioneers North Shore Chapter and a member of the VFW Harold O Young Post #2394 in Melrose. Ed was a devoted husband, father, grandfather and longtime communicant at St. Marys Church in Melrose. Mr. Lynch is survived by his beloved wife of 46 years, Marie Celeste (Bourque) Lynch. Loving father of E. Dennis Lynch & his wife Maureen, Carolyn M. Vernet & her husband David, all of Londonderry, NH, Suzanne E. Groark & her husband Edward of Saugus and Michael W. Lynch & his wife Tanja of RI. Cherished grandfather of Allison, Stephen, Brian, Daniel, Samantha, Katherine, Scott and Gabriela. Caring brother of Mary Mahoney, Rita DeCoste, Geraldine Gillcrist and the late Francis Lynch, Eileen McCarthy & Florence Smith. Also survived by many nieces & nephews. Funeral from the Gately Funeral Home 79 W. Foster St., Melrose on Tues., Sept. 20th at 8AM. Funeral Mass in St. Marys Church, Herbert St., Melrose at 9AM. Relatives & friends invited. Visiting hours Monday from 4-8PM. Burial in Wyoming Cemetery, Melrose. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in Eds memory to the American Diabetes Assoc. P.O. Box 1131 Fairfax, VA 22308. WWII Navy Veteran.