Edward Earl Lynd, 88, a Florida native and resident of multiple states throughout his career, passed away Monday, May 1, 2023.

Edward was born on December 19, 1934, to Burnham Edgar Lynd and Annis Miles Lynd, in Bay Harbor, Florida. He grew up with Sisters, Rosa (Williams) and Odessa (Dixon).

Passing on his family and professional history was important to Ed. As he wrote in his recollections, as a child he loved spending time with his family. His sisters played Big Band records and taught him to dance. He traveled with his parents, often. His favorites included a visit to Bock Tower and Gardens with his mother and hunting with his father deep in the Apalachicola River Swamp. At the age of thirteen, Edward attended Gulf Coast Military Academy and Riverside Military Academy. During his time at Riverside, Edward was a member of the basketball team and the Fusiliers Precision Marching Unit. Edward attended Mississippi State University and studied civil engineering.

At 18, he met Gloria Carpenter, 'the most beautiful girl he had ever seen.' They fell in love and married on April 11, 1953. Within a few years, they started a family, complete with five daughters: Teresa, Sabrina, Letitia, Diana, and Annisa. Being a dependable husband and father was of the utmost importance to Edward, and he certainly did not disappoint when it came to wholeheartedly providing for his family.

Growing up, under the smokestack of a paper mill, Edward knew he wanted to work in the paper industry following his father's footsteps and beyond. He was extremely successful growing in his profession from a paper bundler to a journeyman millwright and eventually to Mill Manager. He was employed by International Paper Company, Rust Engineering, Brown and Root, Inc., St. Regis Paper Company, and more from as far south as Corpus Christi, Texas, to the north in Bucksport, Maine. Ed retired in 1990. He had a long retirement spent in Austin, Texas, Grand Bay, Alabama, and finally Citronelle, Alabama. He was blessed with a long retirement.

Edward is survived by his daughters, Sabrina Lynd Brannen, her twins Taylor with wife Emily and Travis with wife Alicia, and great-grand-children Aaron and Olivia; Letitia Lynd Pardo, her son Joshua Ward with wife Clesha, and great-grand-children Georgia, Garrett, Colby, and Brooks; the late Diana Lynd McGowen with husband Robert, children Robert, Jr. with wife Marissa, and great-grandchildren Adeline, R. William III, and Andrew; Rachel with husband Aaron, and great-grandchildren Wyatt, Naomi, and Chandler; and twins Jeffrey with wife Joy; and Michael with wife Kate and great-grandchildren Miles and Ellie; and Annisa Lynd Lamberton with husband Tony, daughters Emma, and Abigale Hansen with husband Scott, and great-grandson Finnegan. Edward was preceded in passing by his beautiful bride of 62 years, Gloria Carpenter Lynd, his beloved daughters, Teresa Lynd and Diana Lynd McGowen, grandsons, Russell Brannen and Forrest Lamberton, and son-in-law David Pardo, husband to Letitia Lynd Pardo.

A graveside service will be held at Machpelah Cemetery in Pascagoula, Mississippi, on May 13, 2023, at 3 o'clock pm. Visitation will be for immediate family only.

The family would like to extend a special "Thank You" to those who have shown care, love, and support throughout the years.
Holder-Wells Funeral Home, 4007 Main Street, Moss Point, MS, is honored to serve the Lynd family.