Robert Eugene Lynn

Dr. Robert Eugene Lynn, 80, passed away early Saturday morning, May 15, 2010, at his home. Funeral services will be conducted at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, May 17, in the First United Methodist Church of Americus with the Rev. Jim Smith, the Rev. Jerry Lillard, and the Rev. Bill Dupree officiating. Interment will follow in Oak Grove Cemetery. The family will receive friends at Hancock Funeral Home from 4:00 until 6:00 p.m. on Sunday, May 16. Family members suggest that memorial contributions be made to the League of the Good Samaritan, 2001 South Lee Street, Americus, GA 31709. Dr. Lynn is survived by his wife, Linnie Powell Wardlow Lynn of Americus; a son, Robert Keefe Lynn of Nashville, GA; two stepsons, Floyd Hill Wardlow and his wife, Barbara of Augusta, and James P. Wardlow and his wife, Janice, of Americus; one sister and brother-in-law, Rebecca and Bob McNeill of Americus; three grandchildren, Elizabeth Lynn of Dublin, Ben Wardlow of New York City, and Jenny W. Watkins and her husband Martin of Waco, TX. Numerous nieces and nephews also survive. Dr. Lynn was born May 1, 1930 in Georgetown (Quitman County), Georgia to the late Lille Mae Adams Lynn and Anthony Mason Lynn. He attended Georgetown High School, graduating in 1947. He entered college at Abraham Baldwin College and continued at the University of Georgia, graduating in 1951 with a BS degree in Agriculture. Robert became employed as an instructor in the Veterans Farm Training Program in Berrien County, Georgia, and remained in Berrien County after accepting a job as Farm manager for Ruby G. Turner Farms. During this time, he married Elnita Keefe of Nashville, GA. In 1955, Robert returned to the University to pursue a Masters Degree in education concurrently with employment as a Teacher of Agriculture in Ware County (Waycross). The Degree was attained in 1960. Robert was named a fellow in the Education Professions Development Program in 1970 beginning work on an Ed. D. Degree. After the basic course work for the degree was completed, Robert worked as an area consultant in vocational education in the Cooperative Educational Services Agency in the Waycross Area where he collaborated with Dr. A. L. Woodard in developing a model for staff development for local school personnel which was later adopted by the State Department of Education in Georgia for use by all local Boards of Education. On January 2, 1974, Robert joined the Georgia State Department of Education as Coordinator of Program Management for Secondary School Vocational programs in Georgia. While working in this position, he completed the dissertation requirements for the Ed. D. degree and received it in 1977. Dr. Lynn later was named Division Director of vocational program management for all vocational educational programs in Georgia including those operated by the Post Secondary Technical Schools and Colleges. While in this position, he led the development of equitable salary schedules for all vocational programs in Georgia and developed a long range master plan for the expansion of Technical Schools which was approved and partially funded by the General Assembly of Georgia which allowed for the construction and expansion of several Technical Schools in the State. Following these efforts, he led in the implementation of a comprehensive evaluation program for vocational programs in Georgia and managed it until leaving the position. Dr. Lynn retired from the educational field in 1985 and was soon named Director of the Middle Flint Area Council on Aging in Americus, GA. in which position he served until 1995. After finding it difficult to find appropriate sources of food needed to serve senior citizens in senior centers and in their homes, he worked with the Council staff to establish a program to produce the meals themselves. The program was very successful and now serves numerous senior centers all over Georgia. Robert Lynn was married to Linnie Wardlow on February 28, 1988, in Americus, Georgia and lived there the rest of his life. Robert Lynn was born a Methodist and loved, served, and supported the Methodist Churches wherever he found himself throughout his life. He was a Master Mason, a member of Waycross Lodge # 305 F & A.M. in Waycross, GA. He also was a Rotarian. While employed, Dr. Lynn supported the various relevant professional organizations, including The Georgia Association of Teachers of Agriculture, The Georgia Vocational Association, The Georgia Association of Educators and the Georgia Association of Retired Educators. Hancock Funeral Home, 427 South Lee Street, Americus, GA, is in charge of arrangements.