COLUMBUS, INDIANA
Edith Lyn, was born on October 13, 1927. She was one of 7 children belonging to the John Perry family.
On October 23, 2019 after a long and colorful life, Edith passed away peacefully at Four Seasons Retirement Center, in Columbus Indiana.
A gathering of family and friends will be held to celebrate the life of our beloved mother,
grandmother, relative and dear friend on Monday, October 28 from 3 to 5 p.m. at Barkes, Weaver & Glick Funeral Home, Washington St., Columbus, Indiana.
A memorial service led by Rev. Howard Boles from the First United Methodist Church and Pastor Karen Hargett will be held at the Four Seasons Chapel on Tuesday, October 29 at 1:30 p.m.
Following the memorial, a private graveside ceremony will be held at the Garland Brook Cemetery to lay our dearest Edith to rest next to her husband Alyn Lyn and her son, Michael Lyn.
Edith Lyn was born with a deep interest in life; always eager to learn. The story of her life beginning in a small village just outside Derby in Northern England unfolded into a colorful story unusual for its time.
Edith grew up during the war, in which her two older brothers served in the British Navy. She learned to make the best of things. One day she was told by a travelling gypsy that she would marry a dark stranger and make a long journey across the sea. At the age of 19, Edith met her husband to be: a Chinese man, named Wei-Tze Lyn, better known as Alyn.
Following his undergraduate studies at Tsinghua University in Peking, he had come west on a post graduate scholarship to further his studies in Mechanical Engineering at London University. At the time they met, Alyn was working in Derby, close to where Edith was employed. The handsome couple fell in love and despite inter racial marriage being more or less unheard of, they decided to get married.
Edith was a courageous woman, with an endlessly positive spirit. Packed with a sewing machine and a cookbook, she was ready to sail with her husband across the globe to live in China. The fact she spoke no Chinese and knew no-one except her husband, did not deter her in any way. Political strife in Asia however, interrupted their plans. They were advised to remain in the UK. They had three children: Robert, Angela and Michael.
Throughout her life Edith was known for her vitality, her love of people and her eagerness to help others. In their early life in the UK as an international family, their household was full of people from all over the world. Edith would invite all who came by to join for supper, regardless of what she had to offer. She would always manage to stretch a meal for the large circle of diverse and interesting people that surrounded her.
Edith loved to cook both western and Asian food. She was known for her tea parties and fabulous cakes. Edith was also an able seamstress, not only making clothes for her children, but even tailoring a three-piece suit for her husband.
As a young girl, Edith had not been given the opportunity to go to University, but throughout her life she embraced every opportunity to learn something new. She always was ready to stand up for those that had no voice. When she and her husband discovered the challenging news that their third born son Michael was autistic and was not able to speak, Edith engaged with determination and passion to do what she could to make things work; not only for her own handicapped son, but for handicapped people in general.
In 1968, the fortune teller’s vision of Edith’s long journey across the sea came true. Alyn was offered a job at Cummins Research Department in Columbus, Indiana. Leaving his position as Professor at King’s College, London, they sailed by boat from Southampton, UK to the US, where the first greeting was the Statue of Liberty rising above the New York fog. Moving to a new continent takes positive spirit, openness of mind and courage; whoever you are and wherever you are moving to, or from.
During her years in Columbus, Edith was deeply engaged with the Association for Retarded Children, raising awareness and support to develop new programs. Later, when Michael resided at Beverly Farm Home for the Disabled, in Illinois, she and Alyn were dedicated members of the board and vital fund raisers. Her creed was: when in difficulty: get on with it and help.
Edith is preceded in death by her loving husband Dr W.T. Lyn, and her much loved youngest son, Michael Lyn, both of whom passed away in 2010.
She is survived by:
Angela Lyn, her daughter; a successful artist, who resides in Switzerland with her husband Thomas Gyr; their 3 children and 3 grandchildren: Suling, Simon, and Lilou, Oliver, Sebastian, Anna, Maximiliam and Benjamin. Robert Lyn, her son, who became an accomplished mechanical engineer and who resides in the UK with his wife Fiona; their 3 children and 5 grandchildren: Joey, Matt, Nancy and Sam, Jenny Chris Betty and Eddie, Emily, Henry and Avery.
Edith has been blessed by the love of her family and a precious string of wonderful friends. They have brought her joy from all corners of the earth.
In today’s global world, we have to help each other out: the definition of family becomes an extended one. Following the death of Edith’s husband and son in 2010, with her family spread in different parts of the world, life would have been exceedingly difficult had it not been for the support of incredible friends living here in Columbus. Friends that have been at the side of both her and Alyn in times of need. We consider these friends family. May they know that they are deeply loved and appreciated by us all.
In the past nine years, Edith’s life at Four Seasons Retirement home has been enriched by the amazing staff and dear friendships that she made with other residents living there. It is a time in life that focuses beyond the frills. Perhaps as a result, it offers great sincerity. Edith did her part to try and make everything she did a positive experience. She was not only known for her kindness to others, but also her endless appreciation for the help she received. The family remains deeply grateful to you for your love and support.
Edith, you are an amazing woman and an inspiration how to get through life and still shine. What a gift that we could share life with you. We will miss you immensely!
Your family and friends
Angela and Thomas Gyr-Lyn with Suling, Simon, Lilou, Oliver, Sebastian, Anna, Maximiliam and Benjamin Robert and Fiona Lyn with Joey, Matt, Nancy, Sam, Jenny, Chris, Betty, Eddie, Emily, Henry, Avery, Vinod and Moira Duggal and family, Meng Heydrich and family, Linda Chui and family, Ryan Hou and family, The Lin Family Goddaughter Lorraine Darville Rickman and many more .
The family wishes that the memorial collection be donated to: Four Seasons Employee Christmas Fund. The daily work of these caretakers is not easy. Edith always said, “They are my Angels.” She was right.
The family also wishes to extend sincerest thanks to the Hospice staff for their indispensable care.
