Calvin W. Lynch, 78, of Cape Girardeau died Thursday May 18, 2006, at Southeast Missouri Hospital.

He was born June 29, 1927, in Cape Girardeau, son of John Burge and Mary Elizabeth Long Lynch. He and Germaine Scherer were married April 12, 1945, in Cape Girardeau.

Lynch served in the Merchant Marines during World War II. He worked 40 years for the city of Cape Girardeau as a firefighter, fire captain and fire inspector. He was a Boy Scout leader for many years and a member of St. Vincent de Paul Church and the Elks Club.

Survivors include his wife; four sons, Ron Lynch of Barnhart, Terry Lynch of Cape Girardeau, Brian Lynch of Yorktown, Va., Darryl Lynch of Benton, Ill.; a daughter, Linda Fitch of Orlando, Fla.; eight grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.

He was preceded in death by his parents and four brothers.

Friends may call at Ford & Sons Mount Auburn Funeral Home from 4 to 7 p.m. Friday with a vigil service at 7 p.m.

Funeral will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church, with the Rev. Charles Prost officiating. Burial will be in St. Mary Cemetery.